Agenda item

 

To be presented by the Principal Accountant and the Service Improvement Officer.

The Service Improvement Officer presented this item giving a slide presentation on the key points to the Themes as set out in the Quarterly Business Report 4 for the period ending March 2024. 

 

The Principal Accountant then continued the presentation giving an update on the financial aspects of the QBR4.

 

Following this part of the presentation a question and answer session followed.  These included:

 

Can clarification be given as to why there is an increase in surplus from Quarter 3 to now. The Principal Accountant reported as follows:

 

·         NDDR - £251k swing.  Received a reduction in tariff of £82k which was announced in February.  £106k swing in the NDDR Business Rates Pool which is not known until the year end because that will depend on how Authorities do across the region

·         Homelessness £138k swing – difficult to forecast because can have higher costs over the winter.  Temporary accommodation is very expensive but due to the current increase in capacity, people are not being housed in expensive accommodation

·         Government Grant was £144k – these are announced at the year end

·         Active Torridge £208k swing

·         Recycling £163k – do not find out until after the year end

 

The Principal Accountant confirmed there were no outstanding items to be included in the above, the accounts are now in draft form and the audit starts next week.

 

What income from charity events held during the year contributed to the financial income generated from car parks? The Principal Accountant agreed to look into this.

 

There are a number of rough sleepers in Bideford - how much of the underspend from the homelessness was due to the inability to find places to spend money on rather than lack of need to spend that money.    The advice given was to speak to the Officers who deal with homelessness.  The Chief Executive explained that Senior Officers actively monitor the position.  Reports are presented to Senior Management Team meetings every 3 weeks by the Housing Officer.

 

The Service Improvement Officer concluded the presentation by highlighting the key points on the trend summary that occurred for Quarter 4.

 

Following an enquiry regarding a % drop in FOI requests dealt with within the deadline, the Chief Executive informed Members that having spoken to the Team, there is no technical reason for it, and the majority of the cases are just a day or two beyond the threshold but because it is a past failure line it is shown as a significant drop.  A further reason is there had been an increase in the number of freedom of information requests and subject access requests received and the subject access requests are particularly complicated and time consumer to deal with.  Officers are looking at what additional resources might be required to improve performance in that area. The QBR1 will be available shortly with the first years figures for this financial year and this can be reviewed at the next meeting.

 

A concern was raised regarding the number of affordable houses being below the 30% target.  The Chair was of the opinion that the target should be % related rather than a fixed figure.   The Chief Executive said the starting basis is 30% but that is often reduced because of viability.  The target figure of 85 to be referred to the Planning Manager for clarification.

 

The Chair had concerns regarding the actual process and means of measurement for affordable housing and said ways of reporting the process and measurements used to be discussed at a future meeting.

 

A question was asked as to how the housing figure of 4 was reached when there has been a five year track record of zero.  To speak to the Community Safety Officer for empty homes.

 

Strategic Housing Plan – the Chief Executive advised that the Lead Member for Housing, Councillor Hodson, had met with the Planning Manager to start work on a timetable and establish workshops for Members and Officers.

 

Active Torridge – The Chief Executive declared an interest as a Director of Active Torridge. 

 

Councillor Cottle-Hunkin declared an interest as a Member of the Active Torridge Board.

 

The Chief Executive reported that Active Torridge is accountable to External Overview & Scrutiny Committee which has already been set up.  There is no problem with the figures being included in the QBR they will be available and will be far greater than previously under the former contractor.  The number of memberships will have increased because the surplus generated by Active Torridge is greater than was anticipated.

 

The Chair was of the opinion that there is cross over between the two Scrutiny Committees because this Committee had an interest in the performance of the money that the Authority puts into Active Torridge.

 

Councillor Pennington proposed that the committee request the Board of Active Torridge to produce data detailing figures, ie number of memberships and footfall etc.

 

The Question and Answer supplement was discussed in detail with the additional questions/comments made as follows:

 

Car parking – how do we reconcile the amount being taken to what the actual machine is taking – where are we getting the figures from?

Response – there is a car parking system and there will be a reconciliation by cash.  It will not be reconciled by the number of hours.

 

The response to questions in relation to Harbour income is always “no big ships”.   Member commented that the Harbour is an asset, and we must look at what should be done in order to increase income.

 

The Committee discussed usage of the Harbour and parking income on the Quayside.  The Chief Executive confirmed that the Estuary Strategy had been included on the Forward Plan for the Community & Resources Committee.

 

For all areas on the QBR in red, further information/explanation should be provided.  The Strategy, Performance & ICT Manager confirmed that Officers will be asked to provide more information/explanation as to why an item is now red.

 

Universal Credit - Councillor Pennington said his concern was direction of travel which is not going in the right direction and not the actual figures of those on Universal Credit.  This matter to be discussed further.   Councillor Craigie wished to include the figures relating to the Transition of Legacy Benefits.  The Chair stated that it is important to have for discussion the appropriate and applicable data that is available.

 

Councillor Cottle-Hunkin left the meeting.