The Committee is asked to consider the Performance Monitoring Report.  The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance, the Deputy Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance and the Policy and Performance Manager are attending for this item.

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance and the Policy and Performance Manager to the meeting for this item.

The Cabinet Member introduced the report which set out the quarterly portfolio-based balanced scorecard performance reports for the second quarter of 2016/17 (July – September 2016).

Corporate Overview balanced scorecard report for 2016/17 Quarter 2

A Member queried the exact requirement for a 10-day deadline for responses responded to, and the Policy and Performance Manager confirmed that this related to complaints resolved within 10 days, not solely acknowledging the complaint.  In response to a question, he advised that the Customer Service Centre recorded both justifiable and non-justifiable complaints.  A Member considered complaints would increase following the additional sticker that had been put on green bins to state ‘no food waste’.

Environment and Rural Affairs balanced scorecard report for 2016/17 Quarter 2

A Member drew attention to the List of Exceptions and the residual household waste per household.  He stated that overall progress of this needed to be improved, and with the move to a food caddy, and clarity on what could be recycled, the figure should be closer to 50%.  He considered the food caddy was being used by a small minority of households, and suggested that feedback be sent to the Cabinet Member.  Clarification was given on the way that the food waste was collected in the refuse vehicle, which due to the dual collection facility of the refuse vehicles, could appear to residents that food waste was being mixed with landfill or recyclable waste; the lorries had a split compartment at the back.  The Policy and Performance Manager confirmed that the increase in complaints to the Commissioning and Customer Contact Team was related to recycling.

Finance and Performance balanced scorecard report for 2016/17 Quarter 2

A Member raised concern with the lack of speed in processing new housing benefit and council tax benefit claims.  The Policy and Performance Manager confirmed that complaints were listed by department, not by portfolio.

The Cabinet Member agreed to provide further information on  the speed of processing new housing benefit and council tax benefit claims.

Housing and Wellbeing balanced scorecard report for 2016/17 Quarter 2

A Member raised concern with the rise in households staying in temporary housing.  It was noted that a report from the Task and Finish Group was due to be considered at the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

Planning Services balanced scorecard report for 2016/17 Quarter 2

The Policy and Performance Manager agreed to find out further information on the Planning Enforcement figures and why these had decreased.

Regeneration balanced scorecard report for 2016/17 Quarter 2

The Cabinet Member advised that further work was ongoing on local procurement, in response to a Member who considered the figure should be higher.

A Member requested that Swale’s skills profile should be considered for a possible review in the Committee’s future work programme.  A further Member considered that local procurement should be considered for the Sittingbourne regeneration.

The Chairman thanked the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance and the Policy and Performance Manager for attending for this item.

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.