Issue - meetings

The Equalities and Corporate Policy officer introduced the report which included the draft KPIs for 2020-21 as shown in Appendix 1.

A motion was moved to request an additional KPI concerning Job Seeker Allowance Claimant figures to be reported to this Committee for information purposes only. The aim of this was to provide an indicator on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the local economy. It was noted that unemployment in Maidstone had risen to 5.7% due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to questions, the Head of Regeneration and Economic Development confirmed that the draft KPIs would provide information that could be used to assess the recovery of both the local and national economy, as the figures would be viewed in comparison with the figures presented by other areas of the country. Specific reference was made to the percentage of vacant retail units and the footfall in the town centre.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The draft Key Performance Indicators for 2020-21, as attached in Appendix 1, be agreed; and

2.  The number of Job Seekers Allowance Claimants be added as a quarterly Key Performance Indicator for information purposes.