Agenda item

The Committee received a report of the Chief Executive which provided progress reported towards achieving the strategic ambitions and objectives set out in the 2024-28 council plan to members, senior managers, employees and the public (for copy see file of minutes).

The Corporate Performance Manager gave an update on the most recent performance data and contextual information of activity and events that had taken place in quarter one of the new financial year.  Performance remained strong for each area. Crime in County Durham had fallen and there was an increase in the more serious casualties and fatalities from road traffic accidents. Domestic Violence incidents reported to the police had remained the same but the number of victims referred to support services had increased. The selected licensing scheme had increased with 54% fully licensed, in the process of being licensed, had exemptions or legal proceedings instigated.

Councillor D Nicholls queried why the number of domestic violence incidents being referred to Harbour had increased by 10% but the number of incidents reported to the police had remained the same.

The Corporate Performance Manager was not certain but believed that support was sometimes not always taken up at the time of reporting the incident to the police but a few weeks later.  The data could also be inclusive of ongoing support from previous reports.

Councillor D Nicholls asked if there was any data in relation to Clare’s law (officially known as a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme) as to whether this was being used.

The Corporate Performance Manager stated that this information would need to be obtained from the police.

Councillor R Potts questioned the fall in crime figures. He asked if this was because offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 which related to anti-social behaviour was no longer recorded as crime. He added that the figures would not be a true reflection as there were a huge number of missed 101 calls to report crime the police because residents could not get through. He commented that this had been a national change in recording crime.

The Corporate Performance Manager was unclear but knew that recording data did change over time.  He agreed to refer comments about the 101 number to the police.

Councillor P Heaviside noted that the selective licensing programme had only achieved 50% and queried if there had been difficulties in getting landlords registered. He was unsure if the project would ever reach 100%.

Councillor R Crute further commented that the selective licensing programme had been raised at a recent Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.  There were concerns that the programme would not be complete by the time the project ended.  He queried if there could be performance indicators set to keep a tighter monitoring regime on the time limited scheme.  He questioned if the Secretary of State had been asked if the scheme could be extended.

The Corporate Performance Manager stated that the question had been asked previously and the selective licensing model had been refreshed to identify landlords that were to be included in the selective licensing area. As selective licensing was new it was difficult to set performance indicators.  He clarified that of the 54% this was made up of 45% fully licensed, 5% in the process of being licensed and 5% being invested at the level.

Councillor L Fenwick referenced Passfield, a village within her ward which had 80% of properties classed as high priced that would be included in the project and 20% low priced that would not be included.  She was concerned that the properties not included would never benefit from the scheme as they did not meet the criteria.

The Corporate Performance Manager stated that areas included in the scheme had been selected as part of the national programme criteria set by central government. In principle selective licensing areas had as much coverage as possible to be more inclusive. Unfortunately there were pockets of County Durham that would not be included.  There was a need to cover enough private properties in an area to be sustainable and had to draw a line using the criteria set.

Resolved:

That the overall position and direction of travel in relation to quarter one performance (April to June), and the actions being taken to address areas of challenge be noted.