Agenda item

Officers provided the latest Corporate Performance data for the 14 indicators which fall under the remit of the Sub-Committee. These related to the CLEAN and Proud goals.

11 of the indicators had a RAG status of Green, 2 a RAG status of Amber and 1 a RAG status of Red.

The red indicator related to the Percentage of other applications processed within 8 weeks (extension of time agreements were not included). The target was 80%, but we had only achieved 66%. This drop in performance had been down to an isolated issue regarding notification. It had impacted on the ability to determine a batch of householder planning applications within the usual 8 week period. These had been managed by the use of Extension of Time agreements.

The Sub-Committee asked for details of how this issue was identified.

The two amber indicators related to the percentage of major applications processed within 13 weeks and the percentage of minor applications processed within 8 weeks. The Direction of Travel for both was in the right direction with a larger percentage being achieved in in quarter two compared to quarter 1.

Consultation had now closed on restructure proposals which would facilitate the outsourcing of the initial part of the planning application process. When implemented this would streamline the process and had the potential to improve overall process. The Sub-Committee requested details of what this outsourcing would involve.

The nine Proud indicators were all in the green. The percentage of repairs completed on time were below target but within tolerance. Officers indicated that they need to work with contractors to ensure the targets were met.

The average void to re-let times were excellent, the best in London and officers estimated that this brought in on average between £500k and £700k per annum.

The number of potential start-up businesses accessing advice via the Business Start-up Programme was improving following the engagement of Enterprise Nation to provide this advice. Enterprise Nation were confident they would catch up with the annual target by year end.

The final indicator related to the number of volunteers assisting in the running of library services. The Sub-Committee asked for more detailed information around the average number of hours worked by volunteers and the ratio of employed staff to volunteers required to open a library.

The Sub-Committees attention was drawn to the number of Homelessness decisions and acceptances. These had dropped significantly compared to previous years and quarter 1. Officers advised that this was a critical indicator. In quarter 1 there had been nearly 40 decisions , in quarter 2 just 20. A Bill was going through Parliament which would require Local Authorities to intervene earlier.

Officers advised that early prevention was more cost effective that rehousing.  The traditional way of responding to an homelessness application was to wait until the bailiffs warrant was issued. In Havering we had started to respond earlier and this would be the way forward.

What was required was a sustainable way forward we did not want families to keep being made homeless. Officers informed the Sub-Committee that they were working with the fraud team to ensure landlords who were evicting tenats so they could occupy the premises themselves did actually move in and live there.

The Sub-Committee noted the report.