Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no urgent items of business to be considered.

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda;

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered;

c)  any matters arising out of those items;

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider the minutes of the Finance & Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 23^rd January 2025.

Moved by Councillor Gilbody and seconded by Councillor Renshaw

RESOLVED that the minutes of a meeting of the Finance and Corporate       Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23^rd January 2025 be approved as a true and correct record.

Members should contact the officer whose name appears on the List of Key Decisions for any further information). NB: If Members wish to discuss an exempt report under this item, the meeting will need to move into exempt business and exclude the public in accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and Local Government Act 1972, Part 1, Schedule 12a for that part of the meeting only.

Committee considered the List of Key Decisions and Items to be Considered in Private[AK1] .

RESOLVED that the List of Key Decisions and Items to be considered in the

private be noted.

Committee considered a report in relation to the quarterly Performance updates from Quarter 3 (October-December 2024)  delivered by the Information, Engagement and Performance Manager.

The performance updates for Quarter 3 (Q3) showed strong progress, with 91% of Council Plan targets on track and 72% of performance indicators meeting their targets. However, some areas faced challenges: one environmental target was behind, and a housing target was slightly delayed, with one housing target not on track. Dragonfly Development Limited (DDL) also contributed to the Council Plan’s success. The report highlighted overall positive performance but noted areas needing attention, with further details provided in the appendices.

Appendix 1 detailed the performance of the Council's targets for Customers during Q3. Most targets were on track, including customer satisfaction surveys, website performance, stakeholder partnerships, the Equality Plan, and employee engagement. Participation in physical activities and the health intervention programme also exceeded targets. However, there were a few exceptions: the response rate for the real-time satisfaction survey remained behind target at 75% however it was noted that this was still a good level to attain, and several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to arrears collection (such as sundry debts, Council Tax, and non-domestic rates) had not met  targets, partly due to new assessments and delayed payments. Despite these exceptions, overall progress remained positive.

Appendix 2 outlined the progress of Council Plan targets for Environment during Q3, focusing on quality of life, environmental challenges, and biodiversity. Key targets such as updating the Carbon Reduction Plan, increasing recycling rates, and introducing separate food waste collection were all on track. Several initiatives, like vehicle procurement for recycling services and the establishment of a Green Skills Hub, were progressing well. However, the target to carry out 155 proactive littering and dog fouling patrols fell short, with only 17 patrols completed out of the planned 39 due to staff absences. Additionally, a target for proactive community patrols for litter and dog fouling also showed a negative outturn, with fewer patrols carried out than planned. Similarly, fly-tipping clearance within 24 hours was below target, primarily due to limited resources during the December holiday period. Despite these exceptions, most targets were still progressing towards their goals.

Appendix 3 detailed that Council successfully advanced its targets for Economy during Q3, including the development of a Business Growth Strategy, which aligned with regional initiatives. The Bolsover Place Programme had made strides in promoting tourism and local assets, while efforts to foster growth in the creative sector through networks and a Creative Hub had gained momentum. Post-16 educational provisions were supported, and investment in business estates, such as industrial units and Pleasley Vale regeneration had moved forward with secured funding. The crematorium construction had also progressed towards its 2025 goal, and procurement rules had been  updated to include social value policies.

Appendix 4 highlighted progress that the Council had made towards its targets for Housing during Q3. The Housing Strategy had been  adopted, although it was slightly behind schedule. The target to deliver 200 new homes  ...  view the full minutes text for item FCO39-24/25

Committee considered their work programme 2024/25 presented by the Scrutiny Officer.

Moved by Councillor Justin Gilbody and seconded by Councillor Sally Renshaw

RESOLVED that the work programme 2024/25 be noted.