Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive which presented an overview of progress towards achieving the key outcomes of the council’s corporate performance framework in and to the end of quarter four, 2022/23, January to March 2023 (for copy of report see file of minutes).

The Leader of the Council explained that there had been a strong performance alongside a sharp focus on service delivery, communities and partners in the latest update. Areas performing well included, Business Durham which had exceeded targets in terms of the number of jobs created or safeguarded of 647 against a target of 375, bringing the total for 2022/23 to 1,986 against a target of 1,500.

94% of major planning applications had been determined within the 13 week target and 87% of planning applications had been considered within their deadline, which placed the Council in the top quartile nationally.

All carbon reduction works, including the solar farm at Morrison Busty depot were now complete. The Council had also been successful in a bid to install a heat pump at Meadowfield depot.

In relation to household recycling, targeted action had seen the quarterly rate of contamination reduce.

1,384 families had been turned around through the stronger families programme. Reablement and rehabilitation services remained high.

Latest data indicated a 15% fall in anti-social behaviour. There had been 5,614 incidents of fly tipping in the last quarter which was the lowest volume in the Council’s history of fly tipping and was a third lower than a few years ago. Benchmarking data from 2021/22, showed that continued education and enforcement activity was performing strongly against all comparator groups.

1250 net homes had been completed in 2022/23 and 208 empty properties had been brought back into use following council intervention. Action was continuing to be taken in areas such as municipal waste.

There had been increases to the number of children in care and changes to the composition of children entering care continued to cause placement pressures. In SENS and disability services there had been significant increases over last few years, which had also been evidenced nationally. This had been compounded by high levels of demand in partner organisations such as Health.  The Council had invested in SEND and casework team and educational psychologists but there were national shortages for specialist roles which was hampering progress.

Councillor M Wilkes, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change commented that it was good to see that the latest update which demonstrated how much was being achieved, particularly around energy efficiency. Councillor Wilkes highlighted that more funding had been acquired than in all previous years combined, with many projects being completed and worked upon. The decarbonation work at Morrison Busty depot was groundbreaking and work was ongoing at Peterlee, Newton Aycliffe and Teesdale Leisure Centres.

Every opportunity was being taken in applying for grants to bring down running costs and making the Council greener. Work had also extended to residential housing in county Durham, with over 600 properties improved in the last quarter on energy efficiency, particularly in the social housing sector. The Council were onto its third reiteration of the Business energy efficiency programme which had supported 500 businesses. Councillor Wilkes felt that the Council didn’t promote its successes enough and was proud to be part of the Joint Administration working together for the benefit of all residents.

Councillor J Rowlandson clarified that paragraph 44 of the report made a reference to transformation works at Seaham but the reference should have related to Spennymoor.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.