Agenda item
Performance and Corporate Revenue Budget Monitoring - Performance to 30th September 2009 (To Follow)
To consider and comment upon the contents of the report.
(Time allocated – 15 minutes)
Minutes:
Councillor A. Heslop declared a personal interest in Agenda item 9.1 “Performance and Corporate Revenue Budget Monitoring – Performance to 30th September 2009” on the basis that the report contained recommendations regarding the monitoring of the Authority’s performance in relation to housing services, including that of Tower Hamlets Homes and Councillor Heslop was a representative of the Authority on the governing body of Tower Hamlets Homes and a Tower Hamlets Leaseholder.
Reasons for Urgency and Special Circumstances
The Chair informed members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the special circumstances and reasons for urgency associated with the report were detailed on the front page, and he considered that the reasons for urgency, as detailed and as set out below, were valid:
The report contained performance and finance information for the period between 1st April 2009 and 30th September 2009. The report could not be included for dispatch with other agenda items, due to the time necessary to collect and review the data. The review included liaison with partner agencies and other external bodies for confirmation of performance and finance data. The information should be reviewed by Cabinet while it remains reasonably current. The Chief Finance Officer was of the view that the financial information was of pressing importance and should be considered by Cabinet at the earliest opportunity. In the circumstances, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee should also consider the performance information on an urgent basis.
Mr Lutfur Ali, Assistant Chief Executive, and Ms Stephanie Ford, Interim Performance Manger, introduced the report which drew together progress reports in relation to Strategic Plan Indicators, General Fund Revenue Budget and Housing Revenue Budget to the end of September 2009 (Quarter 2), summarising the salient points contained therein and highlighting in particular:
· Overall performance for activities in the Strategic Plan was good. 44 of 83 Strategic Indicators could be reported and the majority of these had maintained or improved performance. However end of year targets for the Local Area Agreement would not be achieved.
· Housing provision indicators – performance identified as off target but indicators being renegotiated with Government with likely significant impact on future performance.
· Educational attainment indicators – some indicators where despite good direction of travel performance was off target and others where performance was off target and direction of travel was deteriorating (paragraph 3.4). Emphasised that data was provisional at this stage. However performance on NEETs improved and now on target.
· Indicators identified as at risk of not achieving year-end target:
o Strategic 103 - The percentage of the top 5% of LA staff who are from an ethnic minority
o Strategic 104 - Percentage of the top paid 5% of staff who have a disability
o Strategic 313/ National 153 - Working age people claiming out of work benefits in the worst neighbourhoods
A discussion followed which focussed on the following points:
· Concern was expressed that all 7 strategic indicators relating to housing were indicated as on red. Clarification was sought and given on mitigating action, but Assistant Chief Executive to provide a detailed response to Committee members.
· Concern was expressed that 7 of 8 strategic indicators relating to education were indicated as on red, with performance against target for failing schools was 700% adrift. Concern was also expressed that despite the overspend being reported in Children, Schools and Families, the direction of travel was deteriorating and this situation could not be recalled previously.
· Concern was also expressed that an overspend of £7/8 million was projected for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account combined.
· In the context of the above concerns expressed by the Committee it was proposed and by consensus agreedthat the Lead Member Housing and Development, Corporate Director Development and Renewal and Chief Executive Tower Hamlets Homes together with Lead Member Children’s Services and Acting Corporate Director Children, Schools and Families be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee to respond.
· With reference to Strategic 202 – Number of physical visits to library premises per 1000 population, clarification was sought and given in relation to the linkage of under-performance and under-reporting detailed. Also whether, if under- reporting had been present in 2008/9, targets for 2009/10 would need to be revisited to ensure the same level of stretch. Response to be included in next report.
· Noted with reference to Strategic 225 – Average time to re-let property in days that the target detailed should be 28 days not 31.
· Clarification was sought and given regarding the reasons for late circulation of the report. Concern was expressed that this prevented Members from undertaking proper scrutiny. Assurance given that Officers would strive to obviate the need for late circulation of such performance information in the future.
The Chair Moved the recommendations, as contained in the report, (taking account of the additional resolution proposed and agreed above); and it was:-
Resolved
1. That performance information set out in the report be noted:
o The progress against Strategic Plan activities.
o Performance against targets for the Strategic Indicators.
2. That it be noted that Officers were taking management action as set out in Section 5 of the report to contain spending within budget.
3. That it be noted that a report would be submitted to January Cabinet on the position of the Housing Revenue Account and any actions needed to address it.
4. That the Lead Member Housing and Development. Corporate Director Development and Renewal and Chief Executive Tower Hamlets Homes, together with Lead Member Children’s Services and Acting Corporate Director Children, Schools and Families, be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee to respond to concerns expressed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding directorate performance.
Supporting documents:
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Performance & CRBM Report 2009 10 Perf to 30 Sept, item 9.1
PDF 128 KB
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Performance & CRBM Perf to 30 Sept 2009 Appendices, item 9.1
PDF 290 KB