Ms Anna Collier, Policy and Information Manager, introduced the Quarter 1 Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Report.  Ms Collier stated that performance was strong for the First Quarter, with six of eight targetable indicators exceeding targets.  Changes in legislation, however, meant that adjustments to the KPIs were advised.

Ms Collier informed the Committee that, following publication, an error was highlighted in the report.  The report should therefore include the following amendment to Appendix 2, page 39:

Percentage of reports of littering attended to: 68.69%.

Officers responded to questions from the Committee, outlining that:

·  Changes to the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 meant that an individual was required to have a Homelessness Application in order to be included in the data returns for prevention activities.  The new cohort was therefore smaller than previously recorded.

·  A significant investment had been made to ensure that IT resources were appropriate for the new data returns.  It was expected that Maidstone Borough Council would capture supplementary data on preventions made for those without a Homeless Application.  However, this needed time to implement.

·  Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) were assessed against a national criteria.  The Council’s ability to spend the DFG budget was linked to the availability of specialist builders.  If the budget was not spent, it could be carried into the next year.

·  The KPI “Percentage of reports of littering attended to” helped the Council to assess whether the planned programme of cleaning was effective.  The name of the indicator had been retained from previous national KPIs.  Mr William Cornall, Director of Regeneration and Place, agreed to provide a comprehensive explanation of this KPI by email following the Committee meeting.

Resolved:

1)  That the summary of performance for Key Performance Indicators during Quarter 1 of 2018/19 be noted.

2)  That the housing advice performance indicator be changed to:

“The number of cases where the homelessness Prevention Duty or Relief Duty has been brought to an end due to the applicant having secured suitable accommodation that will be available for at least 6 months.”

3)  That the housing advice performance target be changed to:

“200 cases per year for the first year.”

Voting: Unanimous