Report by Chief Executive and Interim Director of Finance and Support Services.
The Cabinet is invited to consider and comment on the Quarter 1 Performance and Resources Report, and consider the outlined recommendations within the report.
Decision:
Following consideration of the report the Cabinet agreed the proposed changes to the KPI measures detailed in Table 1.
The call-in deadline is 10 October 2024.
Minutes:
16.1 The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive and Interim Director of Finance and Support Services (copy appended to the signed minutes).
16.2 The Leader introduced the report which outlined the Council performance for the first quarter of 2024/25 and how it is delivering priorities.
16.3 Cllr Hunt, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, highlighted proposed changes to Key Performance Indicators. Actions within the quarter were highlighted, such as a fire training exercise at Chichester Cathedral and updates to Real Time Passenger Information digital bus displays. Upgrades were also being made at the Mechanical and Biological Treatment plant in Horsham in preparation for food waste collection. Finances for the quarter were challenging, with overspend predicted. Social care cost pressures in particular were highlighted. The staff pay award was noted, the union not accepting the recent offer, and so the final settlement remains unknown.
16.4 Mr Suarez, Interim Director of Finance and Support Services, spoke on staff recruitment and retention activities, and how vacancy management is considered. Agency staff in vacant posts are encouraged to consider employment contracts with the County Council.
16.5 The following points were made by Scrutiny Committee Chairmen.
a. Cllr Bradbury, Chairman of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee (PFSC) gave his apologies but provided a statement. PFSC fully supported the views expressed by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property regarding scrutiny committees holding their respective areas of scrutiny to account in respect of delivering savings.
b. Cllr Wall, Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee (HASC), welcomed the preparation work ahead of the upcoming Care Quality Commission CQC assessment. HASC noted the rising adult social care costs and the financial pressure this caused and welcomed the lobbying activity to government on this.
16.6 The following points were made by Cabinet Members in discussion.
a. Cllr A Jupp, Cabinet Member for Adults Services, spoke about the CQC assessment. Staff had submitted the requested information back to the CQC alongside the self-assessment report by the deadline. The onsite assurance visit would follow within 6 months. Cllr Jupp passed on her thanks to the team for their hard work. With regard to the report, Cllr Jupp noted that KPIs had shown some improvements. It was hoped that the ongoing improvement plan would help with addressing the overspend in the medium term.
b. Cllr J Dennis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, reported no significant finance concerns were highlighted due to the significant revenue investment in road repairs. A high level of drainage issues were being reported. There had been over 14,500 road repairs, but defect levels had increased in June due to poor weather.
c. Cllr Waight, Cabinet Member for Support Services and Economic Development, referred to the Customer Service Centre KPI rating. The Centre had recently had a new telephony system installed which would bring improvements in the quarter 3 report. It was noted that academy conversions had led to a reduction in income from school service level agreements. Discussions were taking place with the relevant director over holding staff vacancies. The Customer Experience Team were also projecting overspend due to the previous staff insourcing. Cllr Waight was looking into the issue and was hoping to see this resolved in the Quarter 2 report.
d. Cllr Lanzer, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, reported on smoking cessation activities. Funding would allow a five year plan for this. The Director of Public Health’s annual report would focus on children and young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing. A new measure on self-reported anxiety issues is being monitored.
e. Cllr Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, confirmed that the result of His Majesty’s Inspectorate Inspection is expected soon. A new website had been created for the records office, which had received good feedback from users. Trading Standards had reported no underage sales having taken place.
f. Cllr Russell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Learning and Skills, reported that child placements were a national challenge and added high costs to the portfolio. West Sussex were reporting a low vacancy gap compared with others across the region, and a reduction in agency usage (the lowest in ten years). Home to school transport overspend was reported due to the high costs linked with children with special educational needs and disability plans. It was reported that the contractor for Woodlands Meed was now in administration; however assurance was given that the site was secure and that work was being done to engage with other contractors to complete phase one and then work on phase two.
g. Cllr Urquhart, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, reported on the work to change the Mechanical and Biological Treatment plant in preparation for food collections. The target levels would be met once the site was back in full operation.
16.7 The Leader gave an update on the Economy portfolio and confirmed that construction had progressed on Worthing’s Railway approach and also work was beginning on the Bognor Regis Esplanade improvements. Manor Royal Bus Lane extension work was also progressing. The new West Sussex Economy Board appointment process was progressing well and recruitment was underway for an independent Chair. The budget announcement from Government was anticipated to see what support is available to support local government, particularly with regard to the deficit linked to the Dedicated Schools Grant.
16.8 Cllr Hunt summarised the discussion and recognised that many local authorities were experiencing similar financial pressures. It was reflected that there was time to resolve the pressures that had been reported in the first quarter.
16.9 Resolved that the Cabinet:
1. Has considered and commented on the Q1 report and the financial challenges it contains.
2. Confirms that no additional action is needed in light of comments made.
3. Agree the proposed changes to the KPI measures detailed in Table 1.
Supporting documents: