Agenda item

The Panel received details on the performance and financial information for services relating to Corporate and Communities for Quarter 1 (April to June 2020).

Performance Indicators

The Chairman complemented the staff for all their efforts which had resulted in many indicators receiving a green RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rating. The Panel wished to focus discussions on some of the indicators which had a red or amber RAG rating.

• Registration of Deaths within 5 days – the Assistant Director of Communities explained that this was not an area of concern, services were now fully re-opened and there had only been a slight drop in performance. This performance level was still very good compared to neighbouring authorities and the national picture. The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Communities praised the Team which had performed very well despite the restrictions of lockdown and the additional pressures they faced. There was also currently still a restriction on the use of some buildings for registration purposes.
• Stage 2 Children’s Social Care Complaints in 65 days – the Strategic Director indicated that there had been a modest improvement in the trend. Members appreciated the additional detail which had been provided but requested that the wording be improved on future reports to ensure members could understand the movement in complaints.
• Employees, Actual Full Time Equivalents – Members were confused by the term ‘deteriorating’ highlighted against this indicator. The Strategic Director explained that the number of full-time employees had risen when staff from Babcock and Civica had been brought back in house. He would ensure that the wording was altered to aid understanding.
• Compliments – Members offered their praise that 64 compliments had been received by the Council, mostly relating to Adult and Children’s Services. Most compliments were reflecting the standard of service received and positive staff attitude.
• Sickness rates – Members queried how the current sickness levels compared to the pre-COVID-19  situation. The Strategic Director advised that average sickness levels had reduced and there had been a significant reduction in short term sickness. The figures on long term sickness were indicating an increase, but more work was currently being done to ensure their accuracy. The Panel requested that the Head of Human Resources be invited to attend the next meeting to provide more detail and give further explanation. It was confirmed that the Council’s figures were benchmarked against those of other local authorities.
• Staff survey – the Panel was informed that there had been over 2,000 responses to the recent staff survey with a response rate of over 70%. Most staff were largely content with working from home and also with the communications and contact they had received during lockdown. Full details would be reported at a later stage.
• Cost of Agency Staff as a percentage of the total pay bill – the Panel was informed that agency spend was kept as low as possible, but there were some interim roles and social care roles that were crucial and needed to be covered by agency staff. The spend levels were being monitored.
• General PI’s data– Members asked that whenever there was a Red or Amber rating that further explanatory details be provided. In addition, if titles could be added to the graphs, that would be helpful.
• Library visits – The library re-opening schedule was on track. The Assistant Director highlighted that a Government announcement that day could have an impact on the use of libraries and specific details were awaited. She also drew members attention to a fire that had occurred at The Hive the previous week, but she was happy to report that it had now re-opened. There was no damage to stock, but work was being carried out to the Café which had suffered water damage.
• Library issues – E books – the Assistant Director advised that the Government had relaxed the publishing guidelines during lockdown allowing more books to be borrowed. Guidelines were awaited as to whether this would continue going forward. The Cabinet Member praised the Team for quickly establishing a platform to enable this to be put in place. It was confirmed that the Media Team would continue to promote the E-services.
• Countryside Standards achieved – the Assistant Director advised that the percentage difference was very minor (2 or 3%). The Service was impacted by the weather and staff availability at times, but the standards were fairly consistent.

Finance

The Head of Finance reported that there was an overall underspend of £625k for CoACH and £527k for the Chief Executive’s Unit.  There was little change between the end of Quarter 1 and the end of Period 4 (July).  Quarter 2 finished at the end of September and would be reported to the November Panels. The Chairman praised the Directorates for these outcomes.

In respect of the variance of 7.1% for the Digital, IT and Customer Services, the Panel was informed that this related to a recharge for printing costs for internal customers, for which CoACH was picking up a disproportionate amount of the costs. The Head of Finance hoped this position would be rectified by Quarter 2.

The Panel was informed of the sources of external funding which had been obtained for the costs of COVID-19 and that the additional costs including IT, would be processed through a separate accounting process.

The Head of Finance confirmed that the Public Analyst budget was now being managed by Public Health, but in terms of Panel remits  would remain as part of this Budget for scrutiny purposes.