Agenda item

To receive a report from the Service Improvement Officer.

The Service Improvement Officer and the Principal Accountant (Deputy S151 Officer) gave a presentation, the purpose of which was for Members to note and comment on the findings in the QBR 3.

The presentation included information on:

·         The Performance Management Cycle

·         Highlights from the Four Themes (Local Economy, Communities, Health & Housing, Our Environment, Our Future and Our Council)

·         Performance Reporting 2024/25 (Budget Monitoring of Revenue, Budget Narrative, Key Significant Adverse Variances, Key Significant Favourable Variances)

·         Key Income Streams

·         Salaries Monitoring (Variance to Budget)

·         Temporary Accommodation Costs (Cost Recovery)

·         Budget Monitoring (Capital and Reserves, Earmarked Reserves)

·         Capital Narrative

·         Investments

The Principal Accountant (Deputy S151 Officer) outlined that the most Significant Adverse Variances were staff costs, Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) and car parking. Whereas, the most Significant Favourable Variances were bank interests, government grants and homelessness costs. Additionally, £2.9 million out of the capital programme budget has been spent, and the highest spend to date is from DFGs and temporary accommodation.

The Committee commended Officers.

Subsequent to the presentation of the QBR 3, the discussion progressed onto the Question and Answer Supplement. The Committee addressed the questions submitted by Councillor Elliott, and Members commented on the potential of having an additional full-time Enforcement Officer due to workloads.

Following on, Members addressed Mr Dengate’s questions, where it was outlined that further information is required on a question regarding footfall and business trends in Torridge. The Chair explained that further information could be sought from the Head of Communities and Place. Furthermore, with reference to a question about Universal Credit, the Head of Legal and Governance (& Monitoring Officer) explained that the Council does not hold this data. The Committee noted that this data is a key indicator for the local economy and so requires further discussion.

In response to a question regarding the Planning Preventative Maintenance Programme, the Strategy, Performance & ICT Manager explained that no planning Officers were present in the meeting and highlighted the necessity of submitting QBR questions prior to the meeting. 

Subsequently, Members discussed the Asylum Dispersal Grant with reference to impacts on temporary accommodation costs. The Head of Legal and Governance (& Monitoring Officer) explained that for these families, the Council receives a set sum of money to be used for statutory services. Once asylum has been granted, the Council are able to use the money to assist them with housing. However, this could affect the Council’s temporary accommodation costs.

The Committee questioned if DFGs had stopped in November and the Head of Legal and Governance (& Monitoring Officer) confirmed that this was not the case. Members were made aware of additional funding that will be reported in the next QBR. 

The Committee moved onto the discussion of car parking, and discussed the increase in penalty notices but the reduction of income from car parks. Here, the Committee commented that it would be beneficial to understand the nature of the parking fines for trends to be identified. The Head of Legal and Governance (& Monitoring Officer) explained that this information could be brought back to the Committee. It was confirmed that the increase in penalty notices only relate to Torridge District Council owned car parks.

Members expressed that free car parking may increase footfall and benefit businesses in Torridge. Members noted that this is an essential revenue stream for the Council. Consequently, the Committee requested a comprehensive report from the Car Parking Team, highlighting trends and detailing the impact of car parking charges on footfall.