Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Director of Corporate Affairs & Business Transformation providing Members with an update on performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for 2017-18 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Director of Corporate Affairs & Business Transformation providing Members with an update on performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for 2017-18 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.

The contents of the report were outlined with reference to the following:

·         The number of working days lost due to sickness – the Health and Safety Committee had recently reviewed national and local statistics in relation to this issue. There had been concern at their meeting that stress and mental health issues had accounted for 20% of the total days lost and that long term absences accounted for nearly two thirds of absences. The Council had maintained an average of 8 days, per person, per year, over a period of 8 years. The Human Resources professional body (CIPD) cited an average nationally of 2.9% of working time lost, the Council lost an average of 2.6% and was therefore slightly lower meaning that the Council was roughly in line with its peers.

·         The response to FOI requests still being well below target – it was explained that there had not been a dedicated member of staff covering this area between July and December of last year and that someone was now in post and catching up.

·         The Director of Finance, Assets and Resources confirmed that he was confident that the percentage of Council Tax collected by the end of the 2017/18 financial year would be 98.12%.

·         Number of Car Park vends – the question was asked as to whether it would be more advantageous to know the actual amount of income received rather than just vends. It was explained that both sets of information were helpful and it was AGREED that both sets of data would be included in the report in the future. The Director of Finance, Assets & Resources was informed that the Multistorey Car Park was still making a charge for debit card payments despite the fact that this had been due to cease the previous weekend. He agreed to look into this as a matter of urgency and report back to the Committee.

·         Number of empty shops– why was this and had business owners been approached as to their views on why this was? Discussion took place regarding whether this was related to high rents, lack of footfall and within Cullompton particularly unhelpful road infrastructure. The situation did not seem to be improving despite the allocation of some Portas money for town centres. The Chairman AGREED that he would raise this as a matter of concern with the Cabinet.

·         The number of empty homes brought back into use- this was well above target and the Private Sector Housing Team were congratulated for the extensive work they had recently undertaken in this area.

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