Agenda item

This report details the Council’s performance in the last quarter of 2024-25, through the Borough Plan performance scorecard and updates against key activities for delivering its priorities and outcomes.

(Agenda republished to include an updated version the performance scorecard (Appendix A) on 13 June 2025)

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To note the Borough Plan 2024-25 performance reporting for Q4 as set out in section 3 and Appendix A of the report.

(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.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 23 June 25

Councillor Rubin (Cabinet Member for Climate Action & Community Power) introduced a report from the Corporate Director of Service Reform & Strategy, which provided Cabinet with an overview of corporate performance in Quarter 4 2024-25.

In presenting the report, Cabinet noted that the performance monitoring update provided a detailed assessment against the full suite of Key Performance Indicators developed to monitor delivery of the desired outcomes and corporate priorities within the new Borough Plan 2023-2027 focussed around the delivery of prosperity, sustainability, and thriving communities across Brent.  In terms of a brief overview, members attention was drawn to the 49 Borough Plan key indicators included with the performance scorecard of which 24 had been identified as green (on or above target), 3 as amber (just off target) and 9 as red (off target) with 13 included as contextual information.

In recognising the efforts outlined within the report to focus on performance in the delivery of key services and priorities within the context of the wider financial and demand led challenges faced by services across the local authority, specific reference was made to the positive performance achieved over the latest monitoring period in relation to a number of targets.  These included the provision of job placements secured through Brent Works as well as apprenticeship and in relation to the Council’s environmental objectives, including installation of EV charging points and wider public realm improvements in terms of Category 2 Highway Repairs and the retrofitting of homes for energy efficiency.

Other highlights in terms of performance included School inspection outcomes as well as positive engagement in Brent Youth Parliament and Care Quality Ambassador programmes along with health and community engagement targets (including structured drug and alcohol treatments and reablement service visits) as well as health check outreach.

Whilst keen to acknowledge the achievements outlined, members also recognised the need to avoid complacency with a number of areas identified for improvement.  These included the ongoing challenges in relation to housing void turnarounds and delays in affordable housing completions (which it was noted reflected wider construction and viability issues) although it was noted that the Council remained on course to meet its longer-term target by 2028 boosted by the delivery of an additional 115 properties over the previous week within Alperton.  Other challenges identified included the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis.  Whilst community hubs remained a vital safety net the surge in demand for support from the Resident Support Fund had resulted in processing times remaining high with members welcoming the action and additional resource provided to address the resulting backlog in applications.  Similarly, members also noted the action outlined in relation to addressing Care Act assessment completion times involving review of core systems and supporting IT.

Whilst noting the challenges outlined, members welcomed the performance data provided as a means of providing a clear foundation for action and as a basis for the effective targeting of resources and focus for improvement of services to build a fairer, greener, and more resilient borough.

Highlighting the open and transparent nature of the report and opportunity provided to ensure work continued to be undertaken jointly by Cabinet Members with their relevant Corporate Directors in seeking to manage delivery of the highest standards of service, whilst also seeking to mitigate against the financial challenges and strategic risks identified as part of the overall approach towards supporting local residents and in support of the priorities within the Borough Plan, Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To note the Borough Plan 2024-25 performance reporting for Q4 as set out in section 3 and Appendix A of the report.

(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.