The Committee is asked to comment on the Council’s performance against the strategic goals and provide critical friend challenge to service delivery.

The Chair thanked Councillor Sirajul Islam (Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing) and Thorsten Dreyer (Head of Intelligence & Performance) for attending tonight’s Overview and Scrutiny meeting to present an update on the pace, delivery, performance of the Council’s Strategic Plan. The main points of the discussions on the report may be summarised as follows:

The Committee:

·         Noted that Council’s Performance and Accountability Framework  outlined the process for monitoring the Strategic Plan to improve outcomes for residents;

·         Noted that regular monitoring is being undertaken to enable Members and Directorates to keep process under review e.g. which indicators to keep and which to replace;

·         Noted that (i) at the end of quarter 2 2019/20 all 73 strategic plan activities are expected to be delivered by the end of the year; (ii) 17 performance indicators have been met or are exceeding their target; (iii) 9 are between the target and the minimum expectation; (iv) 8 are falling short; and (v) 24 indicators are data only measures or do not have an expected data return in quarter 2 2019/20;

·         Was keen to get detailed feedback on (i) those “delayed discharges” from hospital attributable to the Councils social care service; and (ii) the inequality measures in regards to WorkPath and Homelessness;

·         Was informed that the NEETS indicator is being revised to bring it into line with national indicators which look at the specific age range of 16-17;

·         Noted that work is undertaken with the directorates on the format/content of the documentation;

·         Agreed that the pace, delivery, performance of the Council would continue to be an item for consideration at the regular spotlight sessions with Lead Members and the Corporate Directors; and

·         Agreed to continue with the regular monitoring of the Strategic Plan.

The attached report provides an update on the delivery and implementation of the council’s Strategic Plan throughout 2019/20.

Item deferred

Standing item.

The Committee received the report of Mark Baigent, Interim Divisional Director of Housing and Regeneration, on the Strategic Plan Q3 2018/19.

The Committee noted that the Regeneration Team would be recruiting new officers to implement the plan and that further details on any action plans and timelines would be advisable by the new officers.

Members requested breakdown of affordable and socially rented units.

ACTION:

Mark Baigent to provide the Committee with a breakdown of affordable and social rent units.

RESOLVED:

1. To note the report. 

The Committee will receive and verbal presentation from the Chief Executive looking at the Council’s performance and future direction.

The Committee received and noted a verbal presentation from Will Tuckley, Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets Council on the Council’s performance and future direction.  The main points of the discussion maybe outlined as follows:

The Committee

·         Noted that the appalling terror attack which took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15th March 2019, had left the community feeling vulnerable;

·         Noted that a number of vigils had been held at mosques, to show support and solidarity to Muslim communities around the world and that the solidarity of the community whilst reassuring cannot be taken for granted;

·         Recognised that while many aspects of life for British Muslims have improved in recent years instances of Islamophobia and hate attacks on Muslims remain a continuing issue;

·         Acknowledged that whilst the Christchurch attacks targeted Muslims, other minority groups face attack too, at different times and in different ways, but we note that there have been a number of attacks on places of worship of different faiths in recent years;

·         Indicated that they supported the multi-agency partnerships intention to facilitate access to the Counter Terrorism Programmes Fund;

·         Noted Mayor Biggs has continued to be active in developing a positive dialogue with the community and partners since the terror attack which took place in Christchurch;

·         Welcomed the fact that the Council has already in dialogue on protective security arrangements prior to the events in Christchurch, to ensure that they are properly designed;

·         Noted that whilst trust by staff on the qualitative and quantitative leadership from management had been questioned by staff, it has now improved at every level based on staff’s experience;

·         Recognised that many areas where the Council would wish to achieve outcomes are challenging and all targets are achieved there is a need to ensure that these targets are not too low;

·         Was reminded that as part of the budget setting report at the beginning of 2018, the Council had adopted a set of eleven new corporate outcomes grouped under three priorities. This was the first step on moving the Council to becoming a much more outcome-based organisation which focuses on making a difference to people’s lives;

·         Noted that when developing the new plan, the Council had reviewed and revised its set of strategic performance indicators with the aim of measuring the impact of its work on residents’ lives. The review had resulted in a set of more outcome focused performance measures;

·         Recognised that schools are a vital part of the local community and the Council is aware of pressures and strains upon them;

·         Noted that the Council in partnership with local Schools have the collective interest of the Borough in common and will look to address any breakdown in that relationship;

·         Indicated that it wished to have the opportunity to carefully review the Councils performance indicators as it was noted that performance 41% of targets agreed had been achieved; (i) 15 red; (ii) 5 amber; and (iii) 17 green;

·         Noted with interest the proposals outlined under Tower Rewards including (i) changes to terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4