Agenda item

The Corporate Performance Report provides an analysis of the Council’s

performance for the first quarter of 2021-22. The report, set out at Annexe 1,

is being presented to each of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees for

comment and any recommendations they may wish to make to the Executive.

Nora Copping and Heads of Service to highlight areas relating to this committees remit (pages to note are Pages 42-51 of the Agenda papers).

The Chairman requested page numbers on the performance information.

The Head of Commercial Services reported that the leisure centres were now fully open but they had still been subject to some Covid restrictions within the first quarter.  Attendance figures were high.

Waverley Training Services had been a pilot for Ofsted for their inspection framework which showed how well thought of it was.

The Careline Service had struggled to grow since the pandemic.  All critical calls were dealt with.  There needed to be more work done on reaching out to vulnerable adults.

The majority of the performance indicators were on track.  The number of visits to leisure centres (C1), although still in red, had improved greatly from the previous quarters.  The Chairman asked for further details on the performance of the indicator C4 (percentage of building control applications checked) to be brought back to the committee in quarter 2.

Some of the Committee felt that the policy to let the grass grow longer earlier in the year had been confusing and suggested that there was a correlation between the feedback received and the 56 complaints in June 2021.  Some of the Committee had received a lot of complaints.  It was stated that the grass cutting equipment was now struggling to mow the grass as it was too high.  It was felt that the intentions had been good but that it had led to a lot of complaints.  The Scrutiny Officer stated that grass cutting would be raised at Environment Overview and Scrutiny where the same comments were expected.  The Head of Commercial Services stated that lessons had been learned and that catching up from the no mow had been challenging but that the contractor had a clear plan going forward.  One lesson to take forward was about the importance of sight lines.  Some of the Committee felt that the benefits to the environment were well worth it when set against the number of complaints received.

The Committee asked what the contractor had been doing whilst the grass wasn’t being cut.  The Head of Commercial Services stated that there had been changes to weed control, it was being done manually rather than using a spray which harmed biodiversity.  The Leader of the Council and the Head of Commercial Services agreed to find an email which had been sent which had set out exactly what the contractor had been doing and circulate this information to all councillors.

The Committee stated that the abuse and injury to staff which had been reported was unacceptable and that the weather over the spring and summer had contributed to the grass situation.

The percentage of building control applications carried out was getting poorer so this was flagged up.  The Head of Commercial Services stated that all planned checks were made within the statutory times and there was no risk to the public.  There had been some issues surrounding the new IT.

It was stated that mental health work was a high priority for the Council, with youth being a particular priority.

A new funding process was being developed and there had been communication with organisations funded through service level agreements.

The Community Trigger was a key piece of work.

Internal processes were being reviewed regarding safeguarding.

The Scrutiny Officer was going to feedback questions regarding licensing to the Head of Environmental Services.