Agenda item

To receive a report from the Internal Audit Team Leader providing Members with an update on performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for 2015/16 as well as providing an update on any key business risks.

The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Head of Communities and Governance providing it with an update on performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for 2015-16 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         It was pleasing to note that the percentage of food premises inspected for high risk was currently showing at 75% for quarter 3. It was explained that a possible reason for this improvement was that the Food Standards Agency had conducted an audit and the council had heeded its recommendation to increase the staff resource in this area.

·         Data in relation to emergency and urgent repairs was very pleasing.

·         The issue of planning enforcement had recently been looked at by the Scrutiny Committee. There was general agreement that if the Planning Department were to meet all of its targets it needed to have the correct compliment of staff, at the moment it still faced a shortfall. The Chairman stated that a further cause for concern were the unknown and unplanned absences resulting in the figures shown for the average number of days sickness absence in the report. The comment was made that the council ought to be able to build a contingency into its budget for such circumstances could be predicted. It was stated that the council did but the recruitment of additional staff to cover absences would have a serious effect upon the budget. The Chairman stated that he would include a paragraph regarding absenteeism in his letter to the Chief Executive. It was explained that the Chief Executive was preparing a report to go to the Scrutiny Committee in April regarding this matter and it was felt that this Committee should allow that process to take place.

·         Staff in Customer First were being trained in the area of ‘Freedom of Information’.

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