Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Sutton, seconded by Councillor Williams and

                    RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 28 October                 were confirmed as a correct record.

No interests were declared at this meeting.

To provide members with an update on the performance of the property portfolio managed by the Asset Management service.

Members were provided with an update on the performance of the property portfolio managed by the Asset Management Service.

In response to questions from members, officers confirmed that:

-       the new leisure facility building was leased out in its entirety to the leisure provider;

-       the Atkins building offered more than an office environment and was a gallery area, and a co-location working area for home workers and was a service for the public. It was also a popular way to attract small businesses in to the building offering office accommodation;

-       marketing for these facilities was mainly through the borough bulletin, and other social media outlets to stimulate the growth of the business;

-       the renting of office and retail space was more volatile and there had been a decline for demand in retail spaces.

It was moved by Councillor Smith, seconded by Councillor Sutton and

                        RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To present the financial outturn position to members as at September 2024.

Members were presented with the financial outturn position as at September 2024.

In response to a question from members around income from planning applications, officers confirmed that this report reviewed a different timeframe to agenda item 10 and that whilst application fees were below budget to date (September) this pre-dated recent major applications being received. It was also confirmed that agency costs covered posts not directly related to receipt of planning applications.

It was moved by Councillor Glenville, seconded by Councillor Stead-Davis and

                        RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To update members of the business rates performance from 1 April 2024 – September 2024

Members were informed of the business rates performance from 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024.

It was moved by Councillor Smith, seconded by Councillor Williams and

                    RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To provide members with the 2024/25 2^nd quarter summary for performance indicators, service improvement plans, corporate risks, and service area risks

Members were provided with an update on the 2024/25 quarter two summary for performance indicators, service improvement plans, corporate risks and service area risks.

In response to questions from members, officers confirmed that:

-       there would be some changes coming to this committee around the risk management framework coming out of work done on the risk register;

-       information could be added to the sickness absence statistics to enable trends to be monitored.

It was moved by Councillor Williams, seconded by Councillor Sutton and

                        RESOLVED –

(i)            that members noted the second quarter status for items listed and reviewed the risks that posed the most significant threat to the council’s objectives and priorities;

(ii)          that the report be noted.

To update members on the performance of the planning service

Members were updated on the performance of the planning service.

In response to a question raised by members around when the next local plan would be in place, officers confirmed that there would still be a role for the local plan. Going forward local plans would sit below new strategic development strategies that would be produced on a wider geographical area. Progress on this would be to update the council’s local development scheme in February 2025 and provide feedback to Government on local plan timescales by mid-March.

It was moved by Councillor Sutton, seconded by Councillor Williams and

                        RESOLVED –

(i)            that members acknowledged the increase in planning performance, the improvement in retention and recruitment across the service and the current and forthcoming challenges with regards to planning appeals;

                        (ii)        that the report be noted.

To update members on the performance of the Environmental Services Team during the previous financial year

Members were updated on the performance of the Environmental Services team during the previous financial year.

It was moved by Councillor Glenville, seconded by Councillor Stead-Davis and

                    RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To inform members of key activities and performance within the Housing Service

Members were updated on the key activities and performance within the Housing service that included anti-social behaviour, rents, tenancy management, repairs and older persons’ services.

Members thanked officers for such a comprehensive report.

It was moved by Councillor Sutton, seconded by Councillor Stead-Davis and

                    RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

For members to review the work programme

Members reviewed the work programme and noted that the financial outturn for quarter 3 would need to be included.

The update was noted.