Agenda and minutes

(Assistant to the Chief Executive)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Panel noted that there were no substitute members.

(Assistant to the Chief Executive). To declare interests in any items on the agenda.

In considering whether to declare a personal or a prejudicial interest under the Code of Conduct, Overview & Scrutiny members are asked pay particular attention to paragraph 11 of the Code in addition to the more familiar requirements.

This requires the declaration of a personal and prejudicial interest in any matter before an OS Committee which relates to a decision of or action by another Committee or Sub Committee of the Council, a Joint Committee or Joint Sub Committee in which the Council is involved and of which the Councillor is also a member.

Paragraph 11 does not refer to Cabinet decisions or attendance at an OS meeting purely for the purpose of answering questions or providing information on such a matter.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider and agree the notes of the meeting of the Panel held on 19 August 2008.

The notes from the previous meeting held on 19 August 2008 were agreed.

(Chairman/Lead Officer) The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed the Terms of Reference of this Panel and associated Work Programme. This is attached. The Panel are asked at each meeting to review both documents.

It was noted that the VFM sub-group meeting due to have been had on 20 October had been postponed. Members expressed concern that the VFM analysis did not contain data for 2007/08 and relied on figures that could be up to 18 months old. Officers agreed to provide 2007/08 figures within the VFM analysis where possible, prior to further consideration by the sub-group.  

The Sub-group would give a verbal update at the next scheduled meeting of this Panel.

(Deputy Chief Executive) to consider the attached report.

This item was deferred from the last meeting in order to receive more information. An updated report is attached.

The Panel considered the first quarter National and Local Performance Indicators for 2008/09.

This report was postponed from the last meeting of this Panel for further information. The Panel noted the figures for the first quarter of the year’s indicators.

LPI 01 – The level of the Equality Standard for Local Government – Asked if level 2 was all that could be achieved at present, Councillor Jacobs was told that it was a realistic target for this year. An officer has only just been appointed to take the lead on this.

It may be that the equality standard would be scrapped next year.

KPI LPI 02 – The percentage of licence applications processed within statutory periods - This indicator is not measuring what the officers thought it would be. It was suggested that it be deleted or revised. The Director of Corporate Support Services will make a submission at the next meeting.

NI 155 – Number of affordable homes delivered (Gross) – During 2008/09 a further 43 properties will come into use including 14 on the Epping Forest College site and 29 on a number of small sites. There are 492 likely and 233 possible properties in the pipeline. It was agreed that a position statement would be put in the Members Bulletin.

ACTION: Position Statement to be put in the members Bulletin.

NI 156 – Number of Households living in temporary accommodation – Councillor Angold-Stephens queried that the target seemed rather high.  He was advised that the definition had changed and the latest figures relate to everyone in temporary accommodation, so 79 was extremely low. The Council had met the government’s target of reducing the numbers of people living in temporary accommodation by by 501 by 2010, two years ago.

LPI 08 – Urgent repairs undertaken within target time – It was noted that the last part of the last sentence (being “and the identification of the proposed stretching target”) be deleted.

LPI 09 – Routine repairs undertaken within target time – That the First sentence should be amended to read “Routine repairs should be undertaken within eight weeks.”

KPI LPI 12 – Affordable Housing – Councillor Jacobs queried the proposed target of 45. He was advised that the target of 66 on NI 155 included any conversions undertaken.

NI 180 – the number of changes of circumstances which affect customer’s Housing Benefit/Council Tax entitlement within the year (per 1000) – Officers explained the background to this indicator. The average change would be 0.95 to give a 975 per 1000 change. Almost every claim should have a change, this will have a lot to do with the Council’s ability to publicise changes made to this type of benefit and our service. People should let us know if they have any changes to make on their claims as it will be good for the Council’s figures. If the Council was not making the number of changes that the government expect then something was going wrong with its systems. It showed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

To consider which reports are ready to be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting.

To report back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with a general update on the panels progress to date.

To note the forward programme of meeting dates for the Panel. They are:

11^th November 2008,

13^th January 2009,

10^th February 2009, and

31^st March 2009.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Panel’s Sub-group was scheduled for 11 November 2008.

The schedule for future meetings were noted.