Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

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

The minutes from the meeting held on 11 July 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

AGREED that Cabinet:

a)      note the General Fund projected unfavourable outturn variance of £0.130m;

b)      note the Housing Revenue Account projected unfavourable outturn variance of £0.131m to the Major Repairs Reserve;

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

d)      approve the Capital Programme revised budget and financing of £109.711m; and

e)      note the Prudential indicators at Appendix F.

The Leader and Portfolio Holder - Strategy, Performance & Finance presented the Projected General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Outturn Report to 31 March 2024 as at 30 June 2023. The report forecast the outturn position for the 2023/24 financial year for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account revenue and capital budgets and 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 Business Manager- Financial Services confirmed that the 5% variances withn the salary budgets due to staffing vacancies were from across all service areas within the Council did not reflect vacancies from any specific post of business units.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)            note the General Fund projected unfavourable outturn variance of £0.130m;

b)            note the Housing Revenue Account projected unfavourable outturn variance of £0.131m to the Major Repairs Reserve;

c)             approve the variations to the Capital Programme at Appendix C to the report;

d)            approve the Capital Programme revised budget and financing of £109.711m; and

e)            note the Prudential indicators at Appendix F to the report.

AGREED that Cabinet:

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

b)       review the Compliance Report attached as Appendix 2 to the report; and

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

The Transformation & Service Improvement Manager presented the Quarter 1 Community Plan Performance Report for April - June 2023.

The report examined how the Council had been performing against the Community Plan as well as the data to look at the performance of key services and delivery against the activities outlined in the plan from 1 April to 30 June 2023.

The Council’s performance was measured in four parts as ‘Our District’, ‘Our Performance’, ‘Our Customers’ and ‘Our Workforce’. The report for Members also contained a compliance report reporting performance in corporate compliance, housing (tenant) compliance and green space compliance.

Members welcomed the report and noted the reasons and actions on-going to mitigate those targets which had not been met, including Newark Beacon occupation and bin collections.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

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

b)            review the Compliance Report attached as Appendix 2 to the report; and

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

AGREED That Cabinet:

a)        note the compliance performance for the end of financial year, the items for action and changes for next financial years reporting; and

b)       Identify any areas of concerns or for further investigation or detail.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing presented a report to provide assurance on the performance of compliance services within housing services and highlight areas falling below the target set and reasons with plan for recovery for the end of Quarter 4 and Quarter 1 2023/24, 31st December 2023 to 30th June 2023.

The Business Manager - Housing Maintenance & Asset Management was in attendance and detailed the actions undertaken by the Council to gain access to council properties where tenants refused access to undertake gas and electricity checks and servicing.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)            note the compliance performance for the end of financial year, the items for action and changes for next financial years reporting; and

b)            Identifies any areas of concerns or for further investigation or detail.