Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Chief Operating Officer.

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Operating Officer on the 2013/14 mid-year review of performance.

The Chief Operating Office informed the Committee that the report had been presented in a new style, and welcomed comments from members on both the format and content of the report.

The report provided summary and detailed information about the Council’s financial and non financial performance at the mid year stage 2013/2014. The report concluded that the financial position had improved since the first quarter and that there had been substantial improvement compared to this position in previous year.

The report was divided into 3 sections:

Section 1 provided a summary of Council Performance, brought together the impact that service performance, the change management programme and financial performance were having on the 5 Outcomes in the Council’s 3 Year Plan.

Section 2 covered financial stability and provided an update on the overall Financial Stability of the Council. It demonstrated how spending in 2013/2014 was being adequately funded, including the positions on overall Service budgets, Grants, Council Tax and Business Rates, Treasury Management, centrally held budgets, and the management of the Council’s Reserves.

Section 3 dealt with workforce development and provided a summary of the key issues relating to the Council’s Workforce Development Plan.   

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be received;

(b)   That Cabinet be informed that this Committee welcomes the improving position in the first quarter in relation to finance and performance;

(c)  That, in future, prior to  any decision being taken involving the introduction of changes to the level of provision of a service, particularly those services rated as excellent such as the green waste collection service, Cabinet be requested to undertake a full consultation exercise on the proposed changes, including where relevant details in respect of  the timing of any changes, particularly where seasonal matters are an important consideration, in order to avoid a repeat of the negative feedback received by the Council in connection with the recent decision to stop green waste collections early this year;

(d)  That Cabinet also be requested to provide an analysis of the cost per month of stopping the collections of green waste early;

(e)  That in connection with the Council’s new arrangements regarding Wholly Owned Companies and Trusts, Cabinet be informed that it is the view of this Committee that the scrutiny of the performance of the new delivery vehicles should be recognised as a formal scrutiny function  and therefore Cabinet be requested to prepare a framework defining the future arrangements to scrutinise the performance of the new delivery vehicles  so that these arrangements can be written into the formal articles of association for each of the new companies/trusts;

(f)   That the Chairman be requested to formally write to the Leader of the Council outlining the Committee’s wishes in respect of the future Scrutiny arrangements regarding new delivery vehicles;

(g)  That the Committee’s appreciation be placed on record for the excellent progress made repairing potholes across the Borough and in particular, the significant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65