Agenda item

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

The Committee received the report of the Director of Resources supplying Members with details of performance against targets set for 2018 / 19.  The report also outlined progress being achieved towards the corporate goals and the outcomes detailed in the Corporate Plan 2015 – 19 adopted by the Council in February 2015.

It was noted that the Corporate Leadership Team had held quarterly performance and risk clinics to review and challenge performance, financial and risk information, where necessary.  This report had also been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The position for each corporate goal was set out in Appendix 1 to the report and detailed key corporate activities and service priorities assessed as being “behind schedule” or “at risk of not being achieved”.  The appendix also showed those indicators which were at risk of not achieving the end of year target.

Councillor Mrs M E Thompson joined the meeting during this item of business and abstained from any voting in relation to this item of business.

Following a discussion and in response to questions raised, the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance provided Members with the following information:

·                    Delivery of the Strategic Sites as set out in the adopted Local Development Plan for the Maldon District: The five year housing land supply calculation had been undertaken and the Council was on track with this and bringing sites forward within the required period.

The Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance agreed to provide clarification as to whether Site 52g Park Drive was complete including enforcement matters.

·                    Influence and co-ordinate partners to prioritise and deliver flood relief projects for identified surface and coastal flooding risk areas in District - In relation to the Brickhouse Farm Scheme it was noted that the Council at its last meeting had agreed the principle of the flood alleviation scheme.

·                    Work with local businesses and agencies to prepare for / implement projects for the following Central Area Masterplan sites – a) Lower High Street – Reference was made to a recent meeting with local developers and concerns local residents had regarding a large scale development in this location.  The Chairman advised that she was not aware of the meeting and would look into this matter outside of the meeting.

The Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance reported that businesses would be engaged as part of the engagement strategy on the lower high street which would be going out in the next few weeks.

Councillor A S Fluker declared in the interest of openness and transparency that he was a Harbour Commissioner.

In response to a question regarding encouraging small local businesses and new start-up businesses the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance advised that there were things that could be done to encourage them and this would be consistent with micro economy.

Performance indicators had been introduced in 2016 / 17 regarding the time taken to acknowledge planning applications.  Since then there had been a significant improvement in performance, however performance for minor and other application was still below the Council’s target of 95%.  The report set out Government guidance in relation to validation targets and the report suggested that the Council consider revising its performance indicators to align with these.

RESOLVED

(i)                 that Members comments and the contents of the report be noted;

(ii)               that current performance measures relating to acknowledging planning applications be replaced and aligned with Government guidance.