Agenda item

(Report of the Leader of the Council)

Report of the Leader of the Council to provide the Committee with an overview of Council performance for the first quarter of the 2023-24 financial year (April to June 2023).  It reports the position in relation to progress with strategic corporate projects and updates on the financial position, corporate risk, audit, information governance and complaints.  Cabinet will consider the report on 31^st August 2023.

The Officers confirmed that for future reports the page numbers would be removed to allow for easier reference for members

The Committee sought clarity on the following: 

1.    Unclear on bench marking how you compare with other local authorities and where do the targets come from?  In terms of benchmarking this will be something we are looking at, key indicators we can benchmark against other authorities.    

2.    Page 8 Quarterly targets, some of the graph’s quarterly performance varies for performance, are the targets wrong where do they come from. These are internal targets based on internal profile of spend.  Internal check against are we roughly spending to our anticipated profile. It’s another way of visualising of where our spend should be now.

3.    Pg 14 responded to 145 Freedom of Information requests in 1 quarter, what sort of drain is that on capacity.  – This is decrease of 9.9% from last year.  The Committee would like to thank the team for the hard work in responding to all these enquiries. 

4.    Neighbourhood Impact Team – what outcome are we looking for from this.    It’s set up to give a more targeted approach the vulnerable people.  Previously the service was great but very wide, this service allows to target those people who need us.  It may be something the committee would like to review in 6 – 12 months.  It will build on the vulnerability data that is collected. 

5.    Should Corporate Scrutiny have seen the draft Asset Management Strategy – It was discussed at Corporate Scrutiny last year and led to some changes.  It is planned to go to Infrastructure Safety and Growth Committee

6.    Exploration of new operating model for services. – A new corporate project hand in hand with the medium Term Financial Strategy, need to look if there is a more efficient effective way of doing things. 

7.    Page 12 Universal Credit/Housing benefit payments.  We have 26 successful claims from 89 applied for, which means we granted 29.9% of applications changed from previous year granted 43 of 98 43.9% why does it keep going down.  – It is the level of outside income people are applying because its general austerity so they are applying for a discretionary housing payment, but the criteria is strict, so we are having to refuse on comparison of income and expenditure as they don’t meet the criteria.  Officer asked to provide a briefing note.

8.    5134 caseload for Council Tax Reduction Scheme so a quarter of the public are currently talking to us about this.  Officer confirmed there are a lot of vulnerable people in Tamworth that need help.  

9.    Net Zero, in report project is on track is this the case.   – Target is 2050 with an aspiration to move target is 2030.  Just recruited a climate change officer.  Two strategy’s due at Scrutiny before Xmas.  Being financially affordable will be a challenge.