Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources 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 priorities as set out in the Council’s Corporate Plan 2023 - 2027. Appendix 1 to the report provided an overview of the Corporate Plan as at the end of Quarter 4 (Q4) (January - March 2024).

The Assistant Director – Programmes, Performance and Governance presented the report to the Committee, advising that of the six priorities, two were on track and four were on track with conditional elements. The report detailed those specific indicators which were at risk of delivery. Appendix 1 to the report provided detailed information relating to individual target levels and an update from Officers on each target.

It was noted that all key performance indicators and targets would be subject to an end of year review, this was to ensure that robustness and validity of corporate performance reporting continued for the next financial year.

In response to questions raised during the debate that followed, Officers provided Members with the following information:

·                Number of organisations supported to improve inclusion and accessibility – It was confirmed that Councillor C Mayes was the Chairman of the Maldon District Dementia Friendly Community group.

·                Deliver One Maldon District, multi-agency partnership action plan – The action plan relating to this indicator covered three years and the percentage shown measured completion of actions across the entirety of the three-year plan. It was confirmed that the Council was on track for year one.

·                Reference to ‘on track’ referred to the Council broadly performing against the priority and the ‘indicators at risk’ column within the table shown in the report provided further detail.

·                Delivery of Promenade Park management plan - The Assistant Director – Customer Services and Operations advised that this work had not been completed by quarter four due to a pause in the project to allow for reassessment. The project had since restarted with a new timetable and delivery plan. She confirmed that the project would be delivered by 31 March 2025 and a timetable which included engagement with Members was being finalised before it was shared.

·                Launch of staff and Members training completed for carbon literacy – Members were advised that following receipt of quotes for this training the Council had decided to develop the training itself which had pushed dates from Q4 into quarter one of the current financial year. The Assistant Director – Place and Community agreed to provide details of Members’ training on this subject outside of the meeting.

·                Delivery of affordable homes – Members were informed that this was an annual target and some affordable housing schemes delivered up front rather than being annualized. The Assistant Director – Planning and Implementation agreed to provide Member with details of affordable housing delivery and buying houses on the open market outside of the meeting.

The Chairperson then moved the recommendations as set out in the report. This was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)             That Members confirm review of the information as set out in this report and Appendix 1with priority focus given to the Strategic Priority level performance;

(ii)            That Members are assured through this review that corporate performance is being managed effectively.