Agenda item

Report of Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance

The Leader of the Council introduced the Integrated Performance Report for Quarter 3 2023/24 which summarised the Councils performance and financial position against the Strategic and Delivery Plans.

The report detailed the main challenges facing each of the four service areas, notably Children in Care, SEND, and Highways.  The report also detailed the forecast overspend of £5.4m (0.9%) compared to the previous forecast.

The main issues discussed at the meeting were:

• The Home upgrade funding for off grid (mains gas supply) properties, appeared to be related to postcodes rather than any property that was ‘off-grid’.  It was requested that more information on this be passed to the committee members. 
• Early Intervention was still being delivered through the Building Resilient Families service and the Children in Care plan.
• New Highway inspectors would being recruited, these would provide capacity to identify category 3 potholes which had turned to category 1 due to bad weather.
• Land that was for sale within a members constituency was available to view via the Property Committee.  Committee details - Property Sub-Committee - Staffordshire County Council
• Steady progress was being made on the Climate change target.
• Business startup rates had stagnated in recent months.  The reasons why and the type of business affected had not yet been identified.  A link to the monthly survey would be emailed to members.
• The Ofsted Report had highlighted the need to bridge the gap in knowledge and partnership working in order to have co-produced plans for children in care.
• It was felt that the use of national benchmarking for children in care information was more appropriate than regional as it was closer to the local profile.
• Members were informed that the Corporate Plan and Delivery Plan were being refreshed and this would change the reporting information in next years integrated report to this committee.
• Showing data for a longer period of time (e.g. annual or over 2 or 3 years) would be useful to see, particularly in EHCP and Category 3 highway repairs.
• Sight of the plan to improve the quality of care providers locally, as rated by the CQC, was requested.
• The detail on Treasury management would be reported every six months to Cabinet.

Resolved:

a)   That the Quarter 3 2023/24 Integrated Performance Report be noted.

b)  That data for a longer period of time (e.g. annual or over 2 or 3 years) would be useful to see an annual trend, particularly in EHCP and Category 3 highway repairs.

c)   That the following information be provided to the committee:

·       The criteria for Home upgrade funding for off grid (mains gas supply) properties and if this related to postcodes.

·       Business startup rates - A link to the monthly survey.

·       The plan to improve the quality of care providers, as rated by the CQC.