Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Operations Manager for Performance, Governance and Health & Safety presenting the Committee with the draft Annual Governance Statement and Action Plan (Appendix A) and accompanying Corporate Governance Framework (Appendix B) for 2020/21.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED the draft * Annual Governance Statement and Action Plan and accompanying Corporate Governance Framework for 2020/2021.

The Committee were asked to consider whether there were any comments they wished to make regarding the draft document, did anything need to be added, removed or amended? The following comments were made:

·         An explanation was requested regarding the ‘Evolve’ project which was described as several HR workstreams; to monitor performance management on-line, a new competency framework and which could also facilitate a skills audit, this was yet to be completed and had not met the deadline in the Action Plan.

·         As a result of more hybrid working proposals, a significant investment and upgrade of the Council’s IT arrangements would need to take place and this would take some time with a completion date of 30 September 2022 in the Action Plan.

·         It was confirmed that there was no backlog of data entry work as a result of the pandemic. A system called ‘Citizen Access’ had been brought in to help customers pay council tax promptly on-line. Other arrangements for paying were still in place for those people who were not so IT competent.

·         Concern was expressed regarding the number of empty Council homes in the district. However, it was explained that the Council could simply not take back houses where there were outstanding legal issues. There was a process to go through via the courts and due to the Covid situation the courts were taking longer than usual to process cases.

Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.