Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services introduced a report which summarised performance in quarters three and four of 2020/21  against the numerous metrics and deliverables contained in the Council’s Corporate Plan 2020-22 and also set out proposed revisions to the Single Performance Framework.

Cabinet Members were invited to speak on key aspects within their portfolios and the issues raised included:

Community Leadership and Engagement

·  Collaboration with other partner organisations had been key, with the creation of BD Giving assisting local communities to engage with and help residents; and

·  Engagement with the community had successfully taken place online despite the difficulties faced.

Social Care and Health Integration

·  70% of young people’s placements had been maintained despite the pressure on the individuals and carers; and

·  Over 90% of care leavers continued to live in suitable accommodation.

Educational Attainment and School Improvement

·  Online learning had been successful during lockdown and additional support given to vulnerable people, which had created stronger relationships with parents and families; and

·  Praise for the School Admissions service which had, once again, successfully delivered national offer day for new primary and secondary school placements, with Barking and Dagenham having the highest first preference rate for Reception classes.

Enforcement and Community Safety

·  An average of 4,000 COVID-19 compliance visits had been undertaken by the Enforcement Team each week; and

·  £170,000 of fines had been issued to non-compliant private landlords, a figure which was expected to increase with the easing of lockdown and more access to properties.

Public Realm

·  Despite pressures on staffing levels due to COVID-19, domestic, recycling and green garden waste collection rates continued to exceed the 99% target for scheduled day collections; and

·  Frontline staff continued to ensure that the Borough’s parks stayed clean despite being much busier due to an increase in ‘staycations’. 

Employment, Skills and Aspiration

·  The Homes and Money Hub had remained open throughout COVID-19, with services continuing to evolve during the pandemic response; and

·  As at March 2021, 641 unemployment learners were accessing learning at the Barking and Dagenham Adult College with 191 starts in employment programmes, both above the target rate, and 850 people had been supported into employment of which 147 were long-term unemployed.

The Leader congratulated the local community for coming together and overcoming challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and referred to the ‘Thank You’ roadshow organised by the Council for residents during the previous week.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the performance highlights and areas of improvement during quarters 3 and 4 of the 2020/21 financial year, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, and

(ii)  Agree revisions to the Single Performance Framework as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.