Issue - meetings

That the contents of the attached report and appendices be noted and that the Council’s service and financial performance for this period, continue to be monitored and challenged.

The Deputy Leader introduced the Financial Performance report. There was a positive variance of £11,000 in the first half of the year and £780,000 left from the £11.48 million which had been awarded.

The Leader then went through the corporate performance indicators, asking portfolio holders to comment as required.

Priority 1: One Council delivering for Local People

On food business inspections, staff illness had prevented to reach the target at the time of the survey but this had been resolved since 17^th October 2024.

On online transactions, an increase had been recorded over the last few years with the new website. As more and more information and guidance were made available and people would reach out by phone or in person the number of enquiries had decreased.

Priority 2: A Successful and Sustainable Growing Borough

On enforcement actions, a lot was done informally without recourse to legal action which did not show in the measurements. It was suggested that different sorts of metrics may be used going forward to capture the picture more accurately.

Priority 3: Healthy, Active and Safe Communities

On items collected that went to recycling and composting, the target was met and the dip was attributed to garden waste having gone down.

On the number of people accessing museums collections in person, the graph was showing a steady growth with yet another award received in October.

On antisocial behaviours and crime reduction the Borough was working with Staffordshire police and data was showing a reduction in cases.

On homelessness and housing applications these had been increasing. The management of the Disabled Facilities Grants had a lot of backlog when transferred to the Council but things were now improving with the extra staff.

Priority 4: Town Centres for All

On car parking the trend had come back to where it was expected to be.

On town centre footfall, data was now available and the figures would likely increase going forward with the regeneration projects.

On market stall occupancy the figure of 40% for the general market could be improved and initiatives such as free Mondays would help achieve this along with additional efforts in terms of advertising.

Resolved:    That the contents of the attached report and appendices be noted and that the Council’s service and financial performance for this period, continue to be monitored and challenged.

Watch the debate here