Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance, Corporate plan and Performance (copy enclosed) presenting an update on the delivery of the Corporate Plan 2012 – 17 as at the end of quarter 3 2015/16.

RESOLVED that Cabinet receives the report and notes the progress in delivering the Corporate Plan 2012 – 17 as at the end of quarter 3 of 2015/16.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill presented the report providing an update on the delivery of the Corporate Plan 2012 – 17 as at the end of quarter 3 of 2015/16.

The performance report provided a summary position for each outcome together with an analysis of key exceptions.  All outcomes had been evaluated as acceptable or better and an explanation behind the status of each indicator had been included with key issues elaborated upon further at the meeting together with achievements in quarter 3.  Performance Scrutiny Committee had considered the report and had called in issues relating to education and housing indicators for further scrutiny. A Corporate Plan Improvement Board had been established to monitor delivery of the Plan over the last eighteen months of the administration.

During consideration of the report members discussed the following –

·         Indicator JHLAS03i – It was noted that this indicator was green when measuring the years of supply of housing land which was at odds with the red rating in the LDP Annual Report submitted to Welsh Government using their calculation method.  Officers suspected the contrary findings had been due to a different measure being used but agreed to look into the matter further and report back

·         CES111a – reducing the reliance on mobile accommodation had been rated blue (completed) because there was a policy in place to address that issue; it was noted that the number of school places provided through mobile classrooms had been rated yellow for primary and amber for secondary

·         performance against the indicator for pupils achieving the level 2 threshold including Welsh/English and Maths had increased from 55% in 2013-14 to 56% in 2014-15.  However, improvement elsewhere in Wales meant Denbighshire’s performance had fallen below the median and was considered a priority for improvement.  Councillor Eryl Williams advised that the indicator was unfair given the huge disparity between Welsh Government funding allocated across the region to spend on school improvement and raising standards

·         THS012: % of principle (A) and non-principal (B) and (C) roads that were in overall poor condition – it was recognised that the green indicator could be misleading but it was in fact a positive outcome with the level of poor condition having reduced overall, it was not possible to amend the wording for clarity as the indicator was set nationally.  Councillor David Smith reported upon the latest figures available which showed an improvement in road conditions for both principle and non-principal roads since 2012.  The challenge of continually maintaining the county’s roads was acknowledged

·         the red indicator for broadband availability was a serious concern which had been called into scrutiny and the delay would be discussed directly with BT

·         Residents’ Survey 2015 – the latest responses had been used to inform the plan outcomes and it was disappointing, if not unsurprising, to note that customer satisfaction levels were still red and that the largely positive report had not been reflected in residents’ responses

·         Vibrant Towns and Communities – activities relating to the Honey Club and Queen Street, Rhyl had been classified green because the Council’s work in that regard was on target – Cabinet asked for greater clarity in future reports regarding which performance element of the project was being measured

·         the rate of fly-tipping incidents was high due to the way incidents in the county were recorded and figures had not increased as a result of the introduction of green waste charges

·         the number of additional affording housing units was largely dependent on the size and viability of housing developments.

Cabinet was pleased to note that the report was largely positive and that scrutiny had called in a number of issues for further examination.

RESOLVED that Cabinet receives the report and notes the progress in delivering the Corporate Plan 2012 – 17 as at the end of quarter 3 of 2015/16.