Agenda item

This report and performance scorecard set out the position on the Council’s performance in the third quarter of 2022/23. The content and format of the report and scorecard have been constructed to focus primarily on the Council’s Borough Plan: Building a Better Brent, and its priorities.

Cabinet RESOLVED to note the performance information contained in the performance report.

Councillor Mili Patel (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources & Reform) introduced the report proving a corporate overview of performance information linked to the Borough Plan priorities for the third quarter 2022/23 (October – December 2022).

In presenting the report, Councillor Mili Patel highlighted the changes made as part of the new performance management framework with a focus around the newly refreshed Borough Plan (Building a Better Brent) and other key corporate strategies including the Black Community Action Plan, Equality Strategy, Poverty Commission, Climate Emergency Strategy and Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy.  In relation to the Borough Plan indicators, members were advised that of the current 51 key indicators for Quarter 3 within the performance scorecard 22 had been rated Green (on or above target), 1 as just off target (Amber), 15 as off target (Red) with 13 included to provide contextual information.

Members were keen to recognise the efforts being made to ensure the continued delivery of services within the current challenging economic and financial circumstances and work being undertaken jointly by Cabinet Members with their relevant Corporate Directors, in seeking to manage and mitigate against the strategic risks identified as part of the overall wider approach towards supporting local residents and in support of the priorities within the updated Borough Plan.  In terms of performance against specific indicators, members noted:

·             The current challenges identified in relation to performance against the target for rent collection (currently rated as amber) given the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and changes to Universal Credit along with the work being undertaken to ensure residents were provided with holistic support to manage their finances and in adopting a “rent first” approach as a means of sustaining tenancies.

·             Current performance in relation to Council Tax collection rates had been rated as green.

·             Whilst performance in relation to the collection of Non-Domestic Business Rates (NNDR) was currently rated amber, overall collection rates remained on track when compared to previous quarters.  It was, however, recognised that many businesses were continuing to struggle following the increase in energy costs, which meant the year-end target remained at potential risk.

·             Whilst the performance in relation to the target for percentage of care leavers (19-21 year olds) in education, employment or training (EET) had been rated as red, the numbers of young people in EET continued to increase from previous quarters.  This was also supported by a programme of investment identified to enhance provision including proposals to develop a Post-16 Skills and Resource Centre, expand the Gordon Brown Centre and core focus in seeking to further utilise the Council’s relationship with Connexions and Brent Works to support young people into post 16 provision.

·             The continued focus on performance regarding the percentage of Looked After Children with multiple placements which currently remained rated as red, with placement stability remaining a focus of the Corporate Parenting Committee alongside additional work to enhance support for kinship carers.

·             Whilst performance against the target for new admissions to residential & nursing care homes for people aged 65+ continued to be rated as red, this reflected the ambitious nature of the target with Brent continuing to outperform London and national benchmarks.  Cabinet recognised the Council’s continued commitment in seeking to support people to live in their own homes, which had also been reflected alongside initiatives such as provision of the Council’s own custom-built assisted living and extra care scheme designed as alternatives to care home placements.

·             The ongoing concern in relation to performance against the target for new birth visits which again remained rated as red.  Whilst performance was improving with the statutory requirements being met this had been identified as a key risk for the Brent Borough Based Partnership with current performance being impacted as a direct result of difficulties in recruiting and retaining health visitors in the face of a national shortage.  A multiagency group had been convened to identify and mitigate system risks related to the shortage of health visitors, and the team continued to prioritise new birth visits to ensure that the most vulnerable were visited first with the recruitment and retention issues identified also having been raised through the North West London Integrated Care System.

With no other issues raised and having considered the update provided, it was RESOLVED:

(1)    To note the performance information contained in the updated report format.

(2)    To note the current and future strategic risks associated with the information provided and agree the remedial actions on strategic risks identified as appropriate alongside the challenge on progress being provided with responsible officers as necessary.