Agenda and minutes

Finance & Performance Scrutiny - Monday, 13 September 2021 6.30 pm

Venue: Virtual meeting. View directions

Contact: Rebecca Valentine-Wilkinson, Democratic Services Officer, tel 01455 255834 

Items
No. Item

138.

Apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Sheppard-Bools.

139.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 132 KB

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Webber-Jones, seconded by Councillor Collett and

 

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March be confirmed as a correct record.

140.

Declarations of interest

To receive verbally from members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council’s code of conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the agenda.

Minutes:

No interests were declared.

141.

Business Rates & Pooling update Quarter 4 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 402 KB

This report gives an update of business rates performance from 1 April 2020 – 31st March 2021

 

Minutes:

Members were updated on the 2020/21 position in relation to business rates and pooling. The report was noted.

142.

Sundry Debts Quarter 4 2020/21 and Quarter 1 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 561 KB

To inform members of the position on sundry debts as at 31 March 2021

Minutes:

Members were updated on the position at the end of 2020/21 in relation to sundry debts. It was noted that the pandemic had had an impact on collection, particularly from commercial tenants. It was reported that some debtors had agreed payment plans or had requested rent reductions or payment holidays.

 

Concern was expressed about recovering the backlog of debt over time and the amount of debt over the 90 day target and it was questions whether it was difficult to assess whether it was under control. In response, it was suggested that an analysis of debts over 90 days and over 120 days be separated out in a future report.

 

Both reports were noted.

143.

Treasury Management Quarter 1 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 419 KB

To inform the Committee of the Council’s Treasury Management activity in the first quarter of 2021/22.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the treasury management activity in quarter 1 of 2021/22. The report was noted.

144.

Performance and Risk Management Framework end of year summary for 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 614 KB

To provide members with the end of year 2020/21 outturn position for Performance Indicators, Service Improvement Plans, Corporate risks, and Service area risks

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were presented with the end of year 2020/21 position in relation to performance indicators, service improvement plans, corporate risks and service area risks. It was reported that, as a result of the pandemic, many indicators were lower than they otherwise would have been, however an appendix had been included which showed all of the additional work undertaken. During discussion, the following was raised:

 

·         The delayed government spending review which had prevented certainty in the MTFS

·         The reasons for targets not having been lowered if they can’t currently be met and it was questioned how useful the targets were to monitor performance during the pandemic when so much other valuable work had been undertaken.

 

A member asked whether targets were likely to be met this year now restrictions had been lifted. In response it was felt that it wouldn’t be an automatic improvement due to the backlog. It was suggested that it would be useful to see which targets were being missed prior to the pandemic so trends could be considered.

 

A member queried why the local plan was no longer listed as a high risk on the risk register in case the implementation date wasn’t met. It was agreed that this would be reported back to the relevant manager.

 

The report was noted.

145.

Finance & Performance Scrutiny Work Programme pdf icon PDF 162 KB

To inform members of the Finance & Performance Scrutiny work programme outlined for 2021/22.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the work programme for 2021/22 and beyond.

 

It was requested that a report on the performance management targets be brought to the December meeting to consider whether there was a better way to monitor performance or to acknowledge when performance was improving towards meeting the target and to prioritise improvement against those indicators that had most impact on residents.

 

It was questioned whether Finance & Performance Scrutiny might be the most appropriate body to monitor the Crescent development and it was agreed that this would be raised with the chair and vice-chairs of the overview & scrutiny function for consideration.

 

A discussion on the MTFS in light of the forthcoming spending review was requested and this was agreed for the December meeting.

 

It was also queried whether it would be appropriate for this committee to deal with climate change and to scrutinise progress of the Climate Change Working Group. This was suggested for the March meeting.

 

In relation to the work programme as drafted, it was agreed that the frontline service reviews would be re-programmed so there was only one at each meeting, starting with the review for the Planning service area in November, the Environmental Health review in December and Housing in March. Members also agreed that they wished to cover all of the areas listed for Environmental Health (alcohol, taxi and gambling licensing; tattooists and body piercing; and scrap metal dealers) in a single report.

 

It was requested that an update on the local plan be brought as part of the frontline service review for Planning.