Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

The Leader presented the report to members, highlighting the following key areas of performance:

-        Re-letting times have continued to improve, achieving a re-let time of 37 days against a target of 40.

-        Officers supported the organising of the Coalville Colour Run which over 500 people attended.  The event was a great success for the Council and for Coalville.

-        A new structure in the housing repairs team was put in place in August which had allowed for better workforce planning and more efficient scheduling of works.

-        All targets for Council Tax and business rates have remained on target with business rates exceeding targets by 0.7%, alongside an increase in the amount collected of £1.7 million.

-        The standard of taxi vehicles has continued to improve with first time pass rate of 74% in quarter 2, surpassing the previous quarterly best pass rate of 69% in quarter 1 and representing a 10% improvement from the previous year.

-        Performance in determining planning applications within target has remained strong.

-        The General Fund and special expenses budgets were being managed effectively and there were early projections of additional income.

-        The projected sickness figure at the end of quarter 2 stood at 8.94 days per full time employee which was higher than the target of 7.4 days.  All long term absences were being closely managed with human resources and there had been an increase in absences due to viral infections which was expected at this time of year.

Councillor T Gillard stated that local businesses had already been contacted with reference to the announcement made by the Government in respect of HS2.  He outlined plans to visit retail outlets on 3 December.

Councillor R Blunt welcomed the work to reach out and connect with all businesses across the district on any matters such as HS2.

Councillor R D Bayliss made reference to the restructure within the housing repairs team and highlighted that calls were now being dealt with by the team themselves rather than via customer services.  He also referred to the improvements in the average re-let time and advised that there was a prospect of improving this further.  He also highlighted improvements in the percentage of vacant properties.

Councillor T J Pendleton pointed out that the percentage of minor applications determined within 8 weeks was now at 85%, which was well above the target.  He added that staffing was now full within the planning department and performance was well above target.

Councillor N J Rushton commented that sickness absence needed to be monitored, however he believed this had been exacerbated by cases of long term sickness, some of which had now been resolved.

Councillor A V Smith drew members’ attention to the work being done in leisure services including the health and wellbeing centre at Hood Park which had seen over 784 patients.  She highlighted the quality of the facilities there.  She also drew attention to the partnership working being undertaken with the sport and activity team being commissioned to deliver a fall prevention initiative across Charnwood, Hinckley and North West Leicestershire.  She also highlighted a new cancer rehabilitation programme which had also been piloted.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor T Gillard and

RESOLVED THAT:

The Quarter 2 Performance Report be received and noted.

Reason for decision: In order for members to effectively monitor the organisation’s performance.