Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Leader advised that the proceedings were being audio recorded and live streamed by the Council.

Councillor K Melton advised the Cabinet of his resignation as a Trustee of Southwell Leisure Centre.

The minutes from the meeting held on 20 February 2024 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

AGREED to review the Performance Framework and any accompanying comments carried forward from the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee

The Transformation & Service Improvement Manager presented a report and presentation to Members, which detailed the Performance Framework and indicators that would be used to monitor and measure our performance against the 2024-27 Community Plan. Performance would be measured against 117 targets, 30 of which were newly added. Of the targets, 38 were numerical, 32 a percentage target and 47 targets would use trend or demands to create realistic targets for the service. The report detailed those existing targets which had been altered. The Cabinet welcomed the new performance framework.

AGREED      (unanimously) to review the Performance Framework and any accompanying comments carried forward from the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee

Reasons for Decision

Performance reporting is a key aspect of how we perform as a Council. It is vital that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of our Performance Framework to ensure that we remain committed to being a top performing, modern and accessible Council. To enable the Cabinet to monitor performance management and compliance to drive improvement.

Options Considered

Not applicable.

That Cabinet:

a)      note the General Fund projected favourable outturn variance of £0.636m;

b)      note the Housing Revenue Account projected favourable outturn variance of £0.025m to the Major Repairs Reserve;

c)      approve the variations to the Capital Programme at Appendix E;

d)      approve the Capital Programme revised budget and financing of £69.585m; and

e)      note the Prudential indicators at Appendix H.

The Business Manager - Financial Services, presented a report to update Members with the forecast outturn position for the 2023/24 financial year for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account revenue and capital budgets. The report detailed performance against the approved estimates of revenue expenditure and income; reported on major variances from planned budget performance and on variations to the Capital Programme for approval; all in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

The report detailed a projected unfavourable variance on Service budgets against the revised budget of £0.331m, with an overall favourable variance of £0.636m to be transferred to General Fund reserves. The HRA accounts showed a projected unfavourable variance on the Net Cost of HRA Services against the revised budget of £0.044m. However, overall there was an increase in the forecast transfer to the Major Repairs Reserve of £0.025m: The main reasons for the £0.044m unfavourable variance on services were detailed at Appendix Cand D to the report.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)      note the General Fund projected favourable outturn variance of £0.636m;

b)      note the Housing Revenue Account projected favourable outturn variance of £0.025m to the Major Repairs Reserve;

c)      approve the variations to the Capital Programme at Appendix E;

d)      approve the Capital Programme revised budget and financing of £69.585m; and

e)      note the Prudential indicators at Appendix H.

Reasons for Decision

To consider the forecast outturn position for the 2023/24 financial year for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account revenue and capital budgets.

Options Considered

Not applicable.

That cabinet:

a)      review the Community Plan Performance Report attached as Appendix 1;

b)      review the compliance report attached as Appendix 2;

and

c)      consider the Council’s performance against its objectives highlighting any areas of high performance and identifying areas for improvement.

The Transformation & Service Improvement Manager was in attendance to present the Quarter 3 Community Plan Performance Report, October to December 2023, highlighting performance from a number of items from the Community Plan including tenant engagement, sustainable growth, the Newark Beacon Centre and the opening of Alexander Lodge. The Cabinet noted that the Policy and Performance Improvement Committee had requested a ward breakdown of Anti-social behaviour which they would receive twice a year.

In discussion, the Cabinet considered: the Council’s Green Rewards App, noting that it helped individuals to see how their own actions contributed to reducing their carbon footprint; the forthcoming Big Green Week from 8-16 June; the proposal to rebrand tenant engagement groups to make it clearer for those tenants wanting to get involved; and the proposal to bring the CCTV monitoring in house, which would enable the Council to further assist the Police in dealing with anti-social behaviour.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)      review the Community Plan Performance Report attached as Appendix 1;

b)      review the compliance report attached as Appendix 2; and

c)      consider the Council’s performance against its objectives highlighting any areas of high performance and identifying areas for improvement.

Reasons for Decision

To enable the Cabinet to monitoring performance management and compliance to drive improvement.

Options Considered

Not applicable.

That Cabinet:

a)      notes the rationale and practicalities for an LGA Peer Challenge; and

b)      welcomes the Peer Challenge and agrees to progress with the provisional arrangements.

The Chief Executive presented a report which set out the reasoning behind and process for a Peer Challenge to be undertaken June 2024. Newark & Sherwood District Council last took part in a Peer Challenge in 2016. The Peer Challenge would help the Council identify what it was doing well, and where improvements could be made. The team undertaking the Challenge would be on site for 3 to 4 days and would provide a presentation of key findings on the last day and follow this up with a full report within a few weeks.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)      note the rationale and practicalities for an LGA Peer Challenge; and

b)      welcomes the Peer Challenge and agrees to progress with the provisional arrangements.

Reasons for Decision

A peer challenge which looks at how we work, how we deliver for our residents and how our culture operates will enable us to focus on areas of improvement to assist in delivering our community plan.

Options Considered

The LGA is the national membership body for local authorities which works on behalf of member councils to support, promote and improve local government. There are no other organisations that provide this kind of service. There is no compulsion to undertake a peer challenge but as best practice it would be expected to participate every 5 years.

That Cabinet:

a)      Note the exceptions to performance of the housing service compliance functions.

b)      The request to the Regulator to remove the regulatory notice.

c)      That the presentation of performance will change from Quarter 1 2024/2025 reporting cycle onwards.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing presented a report which provided an update on the position at the end of Quarter 3 2023/24 from 30 September 2023 to 31 December 2023, with regard to compliance assurance overview and actions arising.  The Business Manager - Housing Maintenance & Asset Management was in attendance and explained the work undertaken to gain access to properties to ensure compliance. The Council had also written  to the Regulator for Social Housing on 5^th February to request the removal of the regulatory notice with supporting evidence.  The service would remain under close scrutiny and a report was scheduled for Audit and Governance in April 2024.  

The Cabinet noted that delays in the Courts process was an additional cause of delays. The Assistant Director- Legal and Democratic Services confirmed that the Council was a member of the Court User group and regularly raised the issue of the impact of delays.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)      note the exceptions to performance of the housing service compliance functions;

b)      note the request to the Regulator to remove the regulatory notice; and

c)      note that the presentation of performance will change from Quarter 1 2024/2025 reporting cycle onwards.

Reasons for Decision

To enable the Cabinet to monitor performance and compliance relating to the Council’s legal and regulatory landlord responsibilities for 27 building safety measures

including fire protection, gas, asbestos, electrical and water.

Options Considered

Not applicable.