Agenda item

The Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee are requested to consider and comment on updates on progress made against the outcomes outlined in the 2023 to 2028 Corporate Strategy and performance against the Council’s latest Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Recommended                 (1)  That the Committee note the report;

                                            (2)  That progress against the Corporate Strategy outcomes be reviewed;

                                            (3)  That the priorities and objectives of the Council’s Corporate Strategy aligning to the Council’s vision be reviewed; and

                                           (4)  That the performance of the Council’s KPIs (Tier 1 – 3) be monitored.

The Policy Manager submitted a report to update the Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee on progress made against the outcomes outlined in the 2023 to 2028 Corporate Strategy.  He also provided a performance update against the Council’s latest key performance indicators (KPIs).  He requested that Committee noted the report, commented on progress made against the Corporate Strategy outcomes and on the priorities and objectives of the Corporate Strategy aligning to the Council’s vision and to consider the performance of the Council’s key performance indicators.

The Policy Manager referred to progress made against the outcomes outlined in the 2023 to 2028 Corporate Strategy.  He explained that the Strategy was focused on the priority themes of Sustainable growth, Environment & Climate Change and Community & Collaborative Working and this included a set of high-level goals called outcomes which were needed to measure and monitor how well the Council was achieving and delivering against the planning objectives.  The Council’s priorities are:

-       Town Centre Regeneration

-       Housing development – Huncoat Garden Village

-       Adoption of the Local Plan

-       A focus on culture, heritage and arts

-       Delivery of the Leisure transformation

There were 26 Corporate Strategy outcomes and which were listed in Appendix 1 of the report.  He reported that, of these, 23 were in progress, 2 had been completed and 1 had not yet started.  The 2 that had been completed were the Adopt an Active Environment Strategy and 11^th Green Flag Park.  The 1 that had not started was to deliver a Domestic Energy Transformation Programme to help to transition from fossil fuels.  All three were under the Environment and Climate Change theme. 

Discussions were held with regards to the Council’s Climate Pledge and plans to meet net zero in 2030.  Members referred to the challenges of decarbonising Hyndburn’s housing stock due to over 50% of the housing stock being terraced pre 1919 and difficult to insulate. The Committee recognised that, as much of the housing stock were terraced properties, it would be unreasonable to expect mass adaptations in order to decarbonise, due to the cost and resources that would be required to achieve this.  It was therefore, suggested that a more feasible option would be to use solar power by fixing solar panels to rows of terraced properties generating solar power.

Members also referred to the Town Centre and its challenges.  They acknowledged that, although, the Arndale Centre required improvement, it was privately owned so options were limited.  They also referred to the current investment in the town centre and the changes this would make.  Reference was made to growth figures and data showing consistent increases in footfall in Accrington Town Centre.  Member suggested that although this was positive, and acknowledged the events that had taken place in Accrington Town Centre to increase footfall, the night time economy was still lacking and that this could be an area of focus.  Members suggested that the town centre would benefit from a live entertainment venue providing music/poetry/plays to increase footfall in the evenings.

Councillor Whitehead, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Cultures, Heritage and the Arts, reminded the Committee that the development of the Market Hall had plans to increase the night time economy in Accrington as did investment in Mercer Hall as an events space.  She also referred to the investment into the town centre, events that had already taken place or were being planned and, collectively, how all of this would provide a more thriving town centre and local economy. 

A Member made reference to Accrington Town Hall being an under-utilised building and that culture, leisure and the arts would benefit from being under the control of the Council.  Councillor Whitehead indicated that discussions were currently under way.

In respect of aligning the Corporate Strategy to the Council’s vision, the Policy Manager reported that the new administration could make some changes to the current Corporate Strategy to reflect their own priorities.  However, he advised the meeting that Committee would need to keep in mind the recommendations resulting from the Corporate Peer Review and the proposed devolution and its possible impact.

Members referred to possible impact on the Council and its projects should devolution proceed.  It was suggested that the Council should target improvements to its own infrastructure whilst it still had the power to make local decisions.

The Policy Manager referred Committee to the Council’s key performance indicators (KPIs) which had been approved at a previous Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee in September 2024.  He reminded the Committee that 39 indicators had been identified and these helped to improve performance monitoring and identified warning signs of failure.  He outlined how the framework helped the Council to track against progress and explained that the KPIs were benchmarked against Lancashire authorities and national averages in order to cultivate a culture of cyclical learning and improvement.  

Members commented on SE3 (Number of fly tipping incidents) and the cost of removing the rubbish.  Discussions referred to the problems of fly tipping and the cost of enforcement.  Members questioned if money was being clawed back through prosecutions to offset this cost.  Councillor Whitehead suggested that this item was discussed in more detail at a future meeting, and that Councillor Eaves, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, was invited to attend to speak on the item.

In order to provide the Committee with more time to scrutinise key performance indicators, it was suggested that up to six items were focussed upon at each meeting.  This item would be reported on twice yearly.  This would enable the Committee to have better focus on headline items (primarily indicators which were identified as failing and doing very well). 

Resolved                           (1)   That the report be noted; and

                                            (2) That reports on key performance indicators are provided twice yearly with focus on up to six indicators per Committee, to enable the Committee to properly scrutinise the items.