Agenda item

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Scrutiny Committee raises with the Deputy Leader or relevant Cabinet member any issues arising from the information in this report, ref CAB3505, which is being presented to Cabinet on the 18 June 2025 and considers whether there are any items of significance to resolve or to be drawn to the attention of Cabinet.

Councillor Neil Cutler, Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report ref CAB3505 - Q4 Finance and Performance Monitoring report for the year to March 2025. The introduction included the following points.

1. The report followed the established format of six sections covering the themes of the Council Plan, showing both project delivery and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
2. Since the previous quarter’s report, a new section on the highlights of the Tier 1 River Park Cricket Pavilion project had been added.
3. The report had also been updated to include a quarterly highlight report for the Housing Compliance Tier 1 project.

Councillor Wallace provided an introduction regarding the KPI Task & Finish group that had met following a previous committee resolution. Notes of this meeting (available here) had been presented at a recent cabinet meeting which had agreed on several actions as a result. The minutes of the cabinet meeting were available here. Councillor Wallace advised of the following points.

1. A meeting was held on 14 April to review the proposed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the 2025/26 year.
2. Two minor changes to the KPIs were accepted, and it was agreed that officers would investigate two new potential KPIs: one measuring greening and biodiversity, and another on planning enforcement.
3. The basis for the annual KPI targets would be included with the first quarterly performance report to provide clarity on how goals were set.
4. It was proposed that the Scrutiny Committee would consider using future meetings for periodic in-depth reviews of key service areas or council policy priorities.
5. It was proposed that updating the forward plan for the committee be postponed until the in-depth reviews could be discussed with officers.

The committee initially discussed the meeting of the Task and Finish group and subsequent issues, and then moved to the Q4 Report. The committee was asked to raise with the Deputy Leader or relevant Cabinet member any issues arising from the information in this report,  which was being presented to Cabinet on the 18 June 2025 and to consider whether there are any items of significance to resolve or to be drawn to the attention of Cabinet. In summary, the following matters were raised.

1. A request was made to include historical RAG statuses to show whether issues are new or long-standing, for example the Carbon Neutrality status (p. 19).
2. It was suggested that simple graphical indicators, like arrows, be used to show performance trends since the last report.
3. The committee agreed to discuss the performance reporting framework and in-depth reviews offline, with the outcome to inform the next Committee Chairs' meeting
4. Further information on the two completed nutrient mitigation pilot plants was requested.
5. Whether there was an inconsistency between the green RAG status for the retrofit programme (p.23) and the red status for related housing items (p.25).
6. Further information was sought regarding the delay in the EV strategy.
7. Clarification was sought over the slow reduction of corporate building gas usage and its impact on targets.
8. Reasons for the retrofit programme’s (p.25) red status and whether there was any resident reluctance.
9. A request to more clearly highlight the positive budget RAG status change for waste and recycling.
10. Why the carbon neutrality action plan timeline (p.19) was rated green when the narrative suggested it was not.
11. Whether the green energy procurement process also considered conventional suppliers to ensure the most competitive rate.
12. The impact of the council’s ethical procurement policy for solar PV on the cost or acquisition of panels.
13. A request to define scope one, two, and three carbon emissions in future reports for public clarity.
14. A request for gas consumption data to be broken down between the main council offices and the Guildhall.
15. Information was sought regarding a recent incident involving council contractors cutting back hedges.
16. How the visitor target for the Winchester Sport and Leisure Park related to the original business plan.
17. The reasons for the delay in the community and well-being strategy.
18. Whether the council had foreseen the housing compliance issues subsequently highlighted by the regulator.
19. The report’s reference to changing demographics and housing preferences in relation to homelessness and voids.
20. Whether challenges in tackling homelessness were still predominantly related to individuals with complex needs.
21. A request for more information on the reduction in stage one accommodation.
22. A request for a strategy paper on the future of the Guildhall.
23. The wider impact of local government reorganisation on the council's work and major projects.

These points were responded to by Councillor Neil Cutler, Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance, Councillor Mark Reach, Cabinet Member for Good Homes, and Laura Taylor, Chief Executive accordingly.

RESOLVED:

The committee noted the report and agreed:

1.    That a meeting be held between committee members and officers in advance of the next Committee Chairs’ meeting to discuss the objectives of the council’s scrutiny and policy committees.

2.    That the cabinet member and officers consider the following points regarding future quarterly performance reports:

a.    That definitions for scope one, two, and three (ref  Page 24) be included in future performance reports.

b.    That the report should separate the gas consumption data for the main council offices from that of the Guildhall and West Wing.

3.    That the cabinet member responds to the question regarding the circumstances of an alleged incident concerning hedge cutting during bird nesting season.

4.    That the cabinet member considers tabling a strategy paper for the committee’s consideration regarding the future of the Guildhall following the completion of the condition surveys and market assessments.

5.    That the cabinet member provides clarification on whether the council’s ethical procurement policy was impacting the cost and acquisition of solar PV panels.