Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive – Performance and Improvement Team Leader, Regeneration and Economic Development.

The Chairman thanked the Performance and Planning Manager, Regeneration and

Economic Development, Graham Tebbutt who was in attendance to speak to Members in

relation to the Quarter 4, 2013/14 Performance Management Report (for copy see file of

minutes).

The Performance and Planning Manager reminded Members of the Council’s recent success in respect of the award of “Council of the Year 2014” by the Local Government Chronicle and noted the different types of indicators reported, Tracker indicators and Target indicators.  It was added that the work of Officers and Members in respect of the new indicator set and targets for 2014/15 was set out at Appendix 5 to the report.

Councillors noted that some of the key achievements in Quarter 4 included several linked to housing: the number of private sector homes improved as a consequence of Local Authority intervention exceeding target; the number of empty properties being brought back into use exceeding target; the number of affordable homes delivered being significantly above target; and the number of homes being brought up to the decent homes standard being ahead and on track for the year end.  Members noted that in addition, the number of apprenticeship starts had exceeded target and since the beginning of the programme in November 2011 there had been over 500 starts, of which 80% had stayed over 6 months and 65% had stayed over 15 months.  Councillors learned that the number of planning applications being determined within timescales was at target, albeit not at the high level as seen at the same period last year.  It was added that the percentage of major planning applications being determined within 13 weeks had remained static, similar to national figures of around 73%, however, below regional and statistical neighbour averages of 81% and 86% respectively.

Members noted progress with Council Plan actions, such as: an increase in the number of landlords participating in Durham Key Options (DKO) choice based lettings scheme; development of the County Durham Plan (CDP), now submitted to the Planning Inspectorate ahead of examination in public; and, following approval by Government, the Housing Stock Transfer Project was ongoing with work on the offer document and establishing the requisite governance arrangements with a shadow Parent Board.

It was added that key performance issues and Council Plan actions behind target included: the percentage of Council owned business floor space being occupied being behind target; sector specific training being delayed until June 2014, awaiting potential Youth Contract funding from Job Centre Plus’ Flexible Support Fund; the delay in a co-ordinated events programme for the county due to the outcome regarding National Portfolio Organisation funding being put back until July 2014.  It was added that a number of capital works programmes were behind schedule: Bishop Auckland Rail Station, albeit only on the technicality of awaiting fibre optic broadband installation; Transit 15 corridor improvements, action relating to Gilesgate now removed after consultation.

Members noted the Tracker Indicators set out within the report including: a slight fall in the

employment rate, with a continued decrease in the number of Job Seekers Allowance

(JSA) claimants aged 18-24; and a slight decrease in those accessing JSA for one year or more.  Councillors learned that homelessness presentation figures had decreased, however, the level of preventions had fallen slightly in comparison to the previous quarter, albeit with more preventions in total across the year compared to the previous 12 months.

The Committee noted a significant increase in the number of families re-housed via DKO; a slowing in the number of housing completions, albeit the number for the year-end being higher than the previous 12 months; and a slight improvement in child poverty figures, ahead of the regional average, however, behind national figures.  Councillors learned that the figures in relation to young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs), as also reported at the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, showed slightly better performance than the regional average, though below national performance.  The Performance and Planning Manager concluded by noting that the percentage of those aged 16-18 years olds where their status in relation to education, employment and training was “not known” was 7.5% for the period November 2013 to January 2014.

The Chairman thanked the Performance and Planning Manager and asked Members for their questions on the report.

The Committee asked questions in relation to the delay in sector specific training and more detail as regards the percentages relating to apprentices staying in post over 6 months.

The Performance and Planning Manager explained that the delay in sector specific employment training scheme was being looked at by the Economic Regeneration Manager, Graham Wood in the larger context of the Business, Enterprise and Skills Strategy and that the Committee may want to receive a report at a future meeting explaining the development and objectives of the scheme.  It was understood that those “leaving” apprenticeships included those finding employment, returning to full-time education or training as well as those simply leaving the scheme, and in general the apprenticeships were for a period of 2 years.  The SPP and Resources Manager, Ray Brewis added that the apprenticeship programme was a rolling programme and that an amount of “churn” was expected, however, the apprenticeships were effectively recycled, given further opportunities for young people.

Members asked for further information in relation to the percentage of “not knowns” and noted concern as regards the proposed target for the determination of planning applications.

The Performance and Planning Manager noted that the figure of around 10% for “not knowns” had been the norm for many years, and was a consequence of the national loss of the Connexions service which in the past had been able to track this cohort.  It was added that the target as regards planning application determinations had been made in the knowledge of the roll out of new planning software and the effect this could have on performance, albeit, maintaining the target of the previous year so effectively aiming for no drop in performance. 

The Committee asked as regards figures for housing providers other than the Council’s in-house provider and the two arms-length management organisations (ALMOs) and whether figures provided were for Durham County Council, the wider county or otherwise.

Members learned that the figures relating to private sector rent were based upon 5 year estimates and that the main Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) sometime did report their figures within their own reports.  The Chairman wondered if this figures could be highlighted as tracker indicators and the Housing Solutions Manager, Lynn Hall noted the reliance upon the RSLs to provide data and the size of the task given capacity issues.  The Performance and Planning Manager noted the issue could be raised by the Head of Economic Development and Housing, Sarah Robson within the Housing Forum.  Councillor O Temple noted that it was an important issue and asked that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman look at the issue.  The Chairman noted that what information could and could not be provided would be looked at further and be reported back to the Committee in due course.

Councillors asked what metric could be used to understand the figure of 984 private sector properties being brought back into use as a percentage of the actual need.

The Performance and Planning Manager noted that the 984 private sector properties brought back into use were based upon grant figures and the Housing Improvement Manager, Shirley Janes noted that the number of private sector rental properties was not known and any proxies, such as those in receipt of housing benefit, would not necessarily give a true number.

Resolved:

(i)          That the report be noted.

(ii)         That the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee receive at a future meeting information on the sector specific employment scheme and the future reporting of housing performance information.