Agenda item

To receive and consider report 239/05 of the Directors' Group. 

Introduction and Report Summary

To receive the Corporate Governance Report for the third quarter of 2005/06.

The Contact Officer for this report is Tim Sadler, Strategic Director (01235) 540360.

Recommendation

The Executive is recommended to note the Directors’ Group Corporate Governance Report for the third quarter 2005/06.  

(Time: 2.39pm to 3.01pm)

The Executive received and considered report 239/05 of the Directors' Group regarding corporate governance matters for the third quarter of 2005/06.  The report looked at key issues affecting the Council, Best Value Performance Indicators, Local Performance Indicators, financial issues and staffing issues. 

Members made a number of comments as they considered the report:

• In the key issues highlighted in the report, Members were pleased to note that the amount of affordable housing the authority had helped to facilitate was 27% on sites of 25 dwellings or more.  The staff were congratulated on this achievement
• A second leaflet raising awareness of community safety had been published
• It was noted that the South East England Regional Assembly had approved part of the draft South East Plan on 1 March 2006, including the further planned development of 1400 houses at Wantage and Grove.  The draft Plan would next go out for public consultation, then to a public inquiry and subsequently to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for approval
• In relation to the adoption of a Child Protection Policy, it was noted that an officer would be 'assigned' to this work, not 'appointed'
• As part of the Environmental Crimes 'Enforcement Implementation Plan', the four priorities of litter, graffiti, fly posting and dog fouling would be looked at shortly
• The Council's proposed Skate Park in Abingdon had been used as a good example of working with young people
• The Council's Direct Services Organisation (DSO) was congratulated for taking over the contract for cleaning the Council's public conveniences
• The Member with responsibility for the implementation of the Communications Strategy was now Councillor Tessa Ward
• Under the Public Spaces Diagnostic Action Plan, it was noted that the latest estimate for the development of the service standards was April 2006
• A report was pending on the recent consultation on waste recycling - the results had been encouraging
• The Personnel, Regulatory and Appeals Committee was thanked for its work on the Pay and Workforce Strategy High Level Actions
• Despite the figures in the report, performance had recently improved on the percentage of invoices paid on time
• It was hoped that progress could be made on Best Value Performance Indicator 183b, the average length of stay in hostel accommodation, so that in future there was no one in this category
• More resources were needed to be put into Best Value Performance Indicator 166a, the Environmental Health Checklist
• Despite a recent improvement in Best Value Performance Indicator 109a, the percentage of major planning applications determined within 13 weeks, more work was planned to make further progress
• With regard to Best Value Performance Indicator 156, the percentage of the Council's public buildings accessible for the disabled, negotiations were taking place to improve the three remaining properties to bring them up to standard
• Members recognised that many schemes identified in the report had made good progress or were complete and staff were congratulated for this 

In the financial commentary appended to the report, an underspend of £1.8m was indicated, increased from £1.2m in the second quarter.  Members noted that approximately £750,000 of the third quarter figure related to timing differences with the Cleanaway contract invoices.  At the year end there should not be a large underspend. 

Compared to the second quarter, sickness has increased.  However, average sickness for the second quarter was particularly low.  This is probably due to the time of year as generally sickness was lower during the summer months.  Members asked for a summary of the reasons behind the large numbers of sickness absence in the next Corporate Governance report.  

RESOLVED

that the Corporate Governance Report for the third quarter of 2005/06 be noted.