Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance that required the Committee to undertake a quarterly review of the Thematic Strategies performance, as assurance that performance was being managed effectively to achieve the corporate outcomes as set out in the Council’s Corporate Plan 2021 - 2023.  Appendix 1 to the report provided an overview of performance as at the end of Quarter 1 (Q1) (April - June 2022). 

The Chairman introduced the report and deferred to the Programmes, Performance and Governance Manager to present the detail.  She took the Committee through the report starting with section 3.3. which highlighted a summary of performance.  As at the end of Q1, it was only the prosperity strategy where outcomes had been marked at risk, and these were highlighted.  Section 3.4 drilled down further detailing specific indicators that had been marked at risk within each strategy.  The data behind these summaries were set out in the appendix pages 41-62 of the agenda pack.  At page 63 was the first iteration of commercial strategy reporting.  The full template was provided for committee visibility but some of the measures will not start to be updated until quarter two.  The commercial projects that contributed to overall delivery and their current status were reported within this table.

The Chairman then opened the discussion.

In response to issues raised Officers provided the following information:-

• That the colour coding, in particular the green section in appendix 1 would be addressed in the next iteration of the report.

• That resources for the delivery of Management Plans for all Maldon District Council owned public and open spaces had been discussed in reports to Council.  The final allocation would be agreed through a further report to Council in April 2022.

• That discussions were reinstated regarding the Air Quality Management Action Plan (AQMA) and funding had been made available.  A meeting took place with Essex County Council (ECC) w/c 22/9/2022 to determine next steps.  An update on that meeting would be circulated to Members outside of the meeting.

• That an update would be circulated outside of the meeting on Business Engagement.

• That Tourism had been badly hit by Covid, large numbers were returning to Promenade Park as evidenced by parking numbers.  There had been a lag in uptake and once that levelled out the risk would be mitigated.

• That the Council is supporting residents during the cost of living crisis and support measures were available on the website.  That Officers were also working with ECC on measures to improve the economy as a whole.

• That the low percentage of customer facing staff training was due to high staff turnover, this will improve in Quarter 2.

• That whilst there had been issues with Parish/Town Councils regarding service delivery by Community Engagement Teams (CETs), the activities within the majority of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) had been delivered. Officers had set up forums to engage directly with areas experiencing difficulties and will report back. 

• That CET staff in accordance with Ignite’s transformation model posted planning notices as it was deemed more efficient than planning officers, given they were already community based.

• That there was a plan in place around the Houseboats, with licenses and agreements in place, which would be progressed shortly.  That in respect of the Lys Hellig, a planning application had been submitted and a response was awaited from ECC.

• That information on Land Acquisition would be distributed outside of the meeting.

• That retrofitting of housing with insulation would be explored with a view to including a key performance indicator on the number of residents accessing grants etc.

• That the bids to government for shared prosperity and levelling up funding would cover the River Bailiff hut and kiosk and there may be scope for improvements in Promenade Park, dependant on the level of funding achieved.

There being no further issues raised the Chairman put the duly seconded recommendations, to include deference to the concerns raised in the meeting, to the Committee and they were agreed by assent.

RESOLVED

(i)           That Members reviewed the information as set out in this report and Appendix 1 with priority focus given to the Strategic Outcome level performance.

(ii)         That Members confirmed they were assured through this review that corporate performance was being managed effectively.