Issue - meetings

Recommendations

That the Executive

(i) notes the forecast outturn position against the 2025/26 Revenue

Budget, as summarised in paragraph 2.2.1.

(ii) notes the position on reserves in Section 2.5

(iii) notes the position on the Council’s Treasury Management activities

during the second quarter of 2025/26

(iv) refers this report to the Audit Committee for their consideration as part

of the overall monitoring arrangements for Treasury Management.

(v) approves the refreshed Capital Plan summarised at paragraph 4.2.3

Considered – A joint report of the Chief Executive and Corporate Director Resources bringing together key aspects of the Council’s performance on a quarterly basis.

The Executive Member for Corporate Services, Councillor Heather Phillips, introduced the report which covered the period 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2025 and drew Members’ attention to the following:

·         This was a new Council Plan for 2025 to 2029 with a new format and five new Council ambitions, which were:

o   Thriving Places and Empowered Communities

o   Sustainable and Connected Places

o   Safe, Healthy and Living Well

o   Maximise the Potential

o   One Council.

·         A new feature included monthly reporting on the Landlord Service, reflecting its ongoing development

·         Key performance highlights for the quarter included:

­   Increase in museum and cultural hub visits, following resolution of issues at certain venues.

­   Strong performance in highways services.

­   Lowest level of referrals to children’s social care in two years.

­   Growth in reablement packages, providing more support to individuals.

­   Improved timeliness of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

·         Areas of concern noted included homelessness, child protection plans, short-term bed-based placements and an increase in permanent school exclusions

The Leader welcomed Members of Scrutiny Board to the meeting, including Councillor Sam Gibbs who was attending his first meeting as Chair of the Housing and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  In response to questions to Executive Members from Scrutiny Chairs and Member Champions the following was confirmed:

Thriving Places and Empowered Communities

·         It was confirmed that improved cultural venues had contributed to increased town centre footfall, although a slight dip in visitor numbers during the quarter was attributed to warm weather.

·         Homelessness challenges were reported to be consistent across the county, with a new strategy due in September.  Actions underway included partnership working, data use, and investment in temporary and supported accommodation.

·         The integration of the Young Person’s Pathway had improved planning and support for care leavers through closer collaboration between children’s and adult services.

·         Planning performance had exceeded national targets despite staffing shortages.  Future reports were expected to include enforcement metrics, with improvements already underway in previously underperforming areas.

·         Average re-let times for council housing remained high due to refurbishment needs, but the number of voids was decreasing and the Executive Member reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to not letting substandard properties.

Sustainable and Connected Places

·         Issues were reported with the implementation of new waste collection rounds, particularly in the Harrogate area, though staff had adapted well to the four-day week and lessons had been learned to improve future rollouts.  Additional operational changes had been introduced across the waste service, including the end of task-and-finish, standardised start/finish times, depot-based working, and strengthened management practices, all aimed at delivering a consistent service countywide.

·         A significant increase in fly-tipping incidents was noted, with no clear local cause identified.  A new fixed penalty notice policy and enforcement strategy were being developed to address the issue more robustly.

·         It was confirmed that national trends and seasonal factors, such as lighter  ...  view the full minutes text for item 729