Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director Corporate Resources and Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

The Committee received a report which provided the six month assessment of performance and delivery for the period April to September 2017.

Of the 10 indicators measured by this committee, 6 can be monitored at the six monthly stage.  Four are should improvement at this point whilst two are worse than at the same point last year.

Council Tax and Business Rate Collection is improved, this is due to improved processes and billing and collection procedures.

Processing of benefit claims has is slightly worse than at this stage last year, however, this is due to the impact of preparations for the rollout of Universal Credit full service in Gateshead.  It has also been affected by the introduction of a new fraud and error scheme from April, together with the changing benefit caseload and regular reform of welfare eligibility measures.

Sickness absence has slightly increased, however, there has been a roll out of a refreshed training of sickness absence procedures.  This is mandatory training for 800 managers and 70% of managers have attended so far.  Employees have also been invited to take part in a Health Needs Assessment, 1400 employees have responded.  The responses are currently being analysed and details will be included in a future report to this Committee.

Deborah Hill is also bringing a full report to the next Committee on all of the work being undertaken around Health of the Workforce/Sickness Absence.

There have been improvements made to Digital Services.  The new version of the website is expected by April 2018.  There has been a 14% increase in page views on the website and 52% of people access the website via their mobile phones.

There will be a new improved way to report fly tipping and there is to be the introduction of an appointment booking service for Registrars.

Volunteers month took place in June and the committee have had an update at its October meeting on the work of the Voluntary Sector in Gateshead.

Equality Impact Assessments are completed for each budget proposal presented for consideration by Cabinet.  Following implementation of agreed proposals, those that are identified as potentially having a significant impact on a particular protected characteristic are closely monitored by the Council and the mitigating actions taken to reduce or remove any adverse impact of budget decisions.

Currently the Council continues to monitor 16 proposals, however, it is proposed subject to Committee agreement that 5 proposals are no longer monitored given that there has been no disproportionate impact on those with protected characteristics.

The proposals which it is suggested that are no longer monitored are:

·         Community Centre Review

·         Library Network

·         Highways Repair & Maintenance

·         Drug and Alcohol Treatment

·         Review of Support for People to Live Indepenently

The Council also prepared its Statement of Accounts by 31 July which is two months ahead of the deadline.  This is going to change for all Councils so it was a good dry run for Gateshead.

RESOLVED -        (i)  that the Committee agreed that the activities undertaken during April 2017 to September 2017

                               (ii) that the Committee agreed that the Council should cease monitoring the impact of the five budget proposals listed above.

                               (iii) that the performance report be referred to Cabinet on 24 January 2017 with the recommendations from this Committee.