Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes from the meeting held on Tuesday 4 November were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Leader welcomed Councillor R. Jackson to the meeting and thanked Councillor R. Holloway for her work on Cabinet and as Leader of the Opposition following her resignation.

AGREED that Cabinet:

(a)     note the General Fund projected favourable outturn variance of £0.719m;

(b)    note the Housing Revenue Account projected favourable outturn variance of £0.033m 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 £49.467m; and

(e)     note the Prudential indicators at Appendix H.

The Assistant Business Manager - Financial Services presented a report which detailed the forecast outturn position for the 2024/25 financial year for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account revenue and capital budgets, which detailed performance against the approved estimates of revenue expenditure and income; report on major variances from planned budget performance; and report on variations to the Capital Programme for approval; all in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

The Cabinet considered details of the favourable and unfavourable variances reported, detailed in tables one and two of the report, and the HRA revenue outturn in table three of the report. The Council had been fully compliant with all prudential indicators during the reporting period.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

(a)         note the General Fund projected favourable outturn variance of £0.719m;

(b)        note the Housing Revenue Account projected favourable outturn variance of £0.033m 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 £49.467m; and

(e)         note the Prudential indicators at Appendix H.

Reasons for Decision:

To consider the forecast outturn position for the 2024/25 financial year for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account revenue and capital budgets.

To show performance against the approved estimates of revenue expenditure and income; report on major variances from planned budget performance; and report on variations to the Capital Programme for approval; all in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

Options Considered:

Not applicable.

AGREED 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 and Service Improvement Officer presented a report which detailed the Quarter 2 Community Plan Performance Report (July to September 2024).  The report and accompanying presentation highlighted various projects undertaken by Business Units including cross objective working, community grant funding awards and some areas where performance was not meeting targets, including re-lets and processing Council tax and Housing benefits. Cabinet discussed the issue and noted that resources had been focused to address the back log in re-letting. With regard to the back-log in claims, the Council had seen a significant increases in claims since the migration to Universal Credit, which impacted our processing times for the Quarter. This had been addressed and at the start of December, times were now at or below target.

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:

Performance management is used to drive improvement by analysing data and progress against key activities as well as building a picture of the context of performance using district statistics, customer feedback and workforce information.

Options Considered:

Not applicable.

AGREED that Cabinet note:

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

b)      the new format for performance for Quarter 2 2024/25 onwards.

The Director - Housing, Health & Wellbeing presented a report which set out the performance position as of 30 September 2024 (Quarter 2) in the new format with regard to compliance, including actions to rectify identified issues.  The report set out the Council’s performance against the Council’s legal and regulatory landlord responsibilities for a range of building safety measures including fire protection, gas, asbestos, electrical and water as well as summarising details of the Council’s housing stock.

Cabinet heard details of where performance was either in red or amber categories and the actions underway to attain compliance, noting actions to gain access to properties and delay with some Court processes.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet note:

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

b)          the new format for performance for Quarter 2 2024/25 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.