The Information Governance Manager and Data Protection Officer introduced the report which presented the quarterly performance management report for the second quarter of 2025/2026.

The Chair invited Members to make comments and these included:

·         Missed bins were skewing the data, suggested new data be sought from when the contract had settled down;

·         clarification sought on why housing benefit claims were showing as a red indicator;

·         disappointed with Planning Enforcement on page 225 with its red indicator and concerned that this appeared to be a constant issue and considered it should be relatively easy to keep people informed and this often caused extra work; and

·         clarification sought on the ‘expected’ sick days in January and March 2026.

In response, the Director of Resources said that the missed bin query would be sent to the team who owned the indicator.  She highlighted the information on page 225 which explained the reason for the red indicators for housing benefit claims and she confirmed that the situation was improving, with September 2025 showing as green.  The sickness data was last year’s data which had been left in for comparison from last year.

Further comments included:

·         Referring to Appendix II: Proposed Amendments to 2026/27 Performance Indicators, considered it very useful to know the percentage of refused planning applications;

·         the refused planning applications indicator should be retained and suggested also adding the third one, so there could be two measures;

·         suggested the housing/council tax benefit was split to achieve a more realistic result for both; and

·         clarification sought on the figures of 0% and 100% in quarter 2, 2023/24 and quarter 4 2024/25.

The Director of Resources explained that the refused planning applications indicator was not bringing any value and the indicator was case specific, and refusals were not considered to be a good way to measure performance  Applications granted were sent to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).  The reporting could be changed so that it was the same as what was reported to the MHCLG so things were not done differently/twice. The Director of Resources said she would take away the suggestion that the housing/council tax benefits claims be split to the relevant streams.  She added that working groups thoroughly reviewed all the performance indicators last year.  The 0% and 100% figures would be looked into and more information would be added to the next report.

CouncillorBaldock moved the following amendment:  That the refused planning applications indicator be retained in its current form, whether it be presented in percentages granted or percentages refused and add a measure to record refusals contrary to officer advice.  This was seconded by Councillor Jayes and on being put to the vote was agreed.

CouncillorBaldock proposed the substantive recommendations and these were seconded by Councilor Bowen.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Performance Management Report at Appendix I of the report be noted.

(2)      That the Percentage of Delegated Decisions by Officers be deleted.

(3)      That the Refused Planning Applications indicator be retained in its current form whether it be presented in percentages granted or percentages refused.

(4)      That refusals contrary to officer advice be recorded.

(5)      That a Major Applications with Extension of Time indicator be added.