Agenda item

Mid-Year Strategic Plan Performance Update 2014 15

Interview with Clare Wood, Policy and Performance Officer

 

Minutes:

The Policy and Performance Officer, Clare Wood, presented the Mid-year Strategic Plan Performance Update 2014/15 which outlined progress updates against all Strategic Plan actions and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess if the Council was on track achieve its outcomes and priorities.

 

Out of the 34 key Performance Indicators that could be reported at the mid-year point, the Committee were advised that 16 had been rated green (currently on target), and 11 had been rated amber. Of the 29 Strategic Plan Actions, 14 had been completed and resulted in improvements or efficiencies to services, with the majority of the remaining actions expected to be completed by March 2015.

 

Highlights noted in the report included the increase in income from pay and display car parks by £13 per space, the meeting of quarterly targets in relation to the number of affordable homes delivered and private sector homes improved, and Mote Park’s achievement of second place in the People’s Choice Green Flag Nation’s Favourite Park competition.

 

Reference was made to several low lights including the Planning Support Shared Service having achieved quarterly targets only against the major processing indicator. In order to monitor this, Cabinet had requested an update on this service to be provided to them at each meeting of the Cabinet, with the first of these to be reported in December. It was also noted that the annual target for total waste arisings was unlikely to achieve annual target.

 

The channel shift indicators for Customer Services were characterised as amber however were expected to be on track for annual target. Members wished to gain insight into the nature of the queries that were received by the Gateway in face to face contacts segmented by service. A Member also described an instance where they had waited over five minutes on the phone to the Council and unable to get through to the person they required, however this was unable to be investigated due to there being no record of the incoming call. This was recognised as a data quality issue.

 

The Committee expressed interest in the Engagement and Participatory Appraisal workshop that would form part of the review of the Community Development Plan, and more information on this workshop was requested.

 

The Programme Manager for Financial Inclusion and Maidstone Families Matter, Ellie Kershaw, spoke on homelessness indicators as per the recommendation of the October Committee. It was explained that Maidstone reflected the national trend towards an increase of people reporting as homeless. There had been a decreased ability to focus on homelessness prevention due to this increase in presentations but with the same number of Officers. To address this, a triage system had been adopted at the Gateway which allowed prioritisation of those who were homeless on the day, with appointments for those who were at future risk of homelessness, and advice for those who were not at risk. The temporary accommodation facility at Aylesbury House had full tenancy, although it was explained that 100% occupancy may not always be achievable due to it being designed to accommodate single people and couples rather than families. It was clarified that Magnolia House would provide a temporary accommodation facility for families once launched. It was proposed that Members may appreciate a training session on housing legislation.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1)  That the progress made against the Strategic Actions be noted;

 

2)  That the out-turns of the Key performance Indicators at Appendix A of the report be noted;

 

3)  That the annual performance targets that were unlikely to be achieved, namely the processing of planning applications within statutory timescales and total waste arisings per household indicators, be noted;

 

4)  That further actions requested by Committee be taken as follows:

 

a)  That the details of the Engagement and Participatory Appraisal Workshops be circulated to Members outside of the Committee by the Community Development & Partnerships Manager.

 

b)  That data regarding visitors to the Gateway segmented by nature of enquiry be provided to Members outside of the Committee by the Business Improvement Manager.

 

c)  That the Policy and Performance Officer notes the Committees concern regarding the waiting times for calls to the Contact Centre, and will audit said indicator as a data quality issue, to report back to Committee when complete.

 

d)  That the Chairman convene with The Programme Manager for Financial Inclusion and Maidstone Families Matter outside of the Committee to discuss staffing requirements within the Housing, first results from new projects implemented, and the potential for a training session in housing legislation for Members; the Chairman to report back to the January meeting of the Committee.

 

e)  That the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services be invited to address the January meeting of the Committee regarding the Planning Support Shared Services Update to Cabinet in December.

 

 

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