Agenda item

To review the City Council’s performance at the end of the 2019/20 financial year.

4.1       AnnelieDrabu (Head of Strategy & Intelligence)introduced a year-end report that presented detailed performance results for the year April 2019 to March 2020 against City for All priorities, and which considered progress in achieving the deliverables and targets within departmental business plans. The report also noted where services had experienced risks or issues arising from the Covid-19 outbreak and where performance had been particularly good despite challenging conditions. The information presented was by exception and highlighted the top achievements and challenges in quarter four of 2019/20.

4.2       The Committee considered the overall performance of the City Council and submitted questions to individual members of the Executive Leadership Team on performance within their directorates. This included queries about key performance indicators critical to the Council’s performance which had either missed the ideal target at year end or had only met the minimum standard. 

4.3       Issues discussed included local preparations for a possible second wave of Covid-19; continued pressure on the care market and the need for immunisation; and safeguarding children while school attendance was disrupted. 

4.4       The Committee asked for further information on a range of issues arising from the report, which included an update on the care market and the additional costs to Westminster; the performance of the virtual school during the Covid-19 lockdown period; an update on the community contribution, including collection, allocation and sustainability.

4.5       RESOLVED: That the End of Year Performance Report for 2019/20 be noted.

            ACTIONS:

1.         Written response required on suppliers not delivering on Social Value commitments.  (Action for Gerald Almeroth - Executive Director of Finance & Resources)

2.          Written update required on the Public Health response to youth violence/youth offending.  (Action for Bernie Flaherty – Bi-Borough Executive Director for Adult Social Care & Health)

3.         Figures to be provided on the numbers of electric cars (both percentage and total) for the City.  (Action for Kevin Goad - Director, City Highways, Environment & City Management)

4.         Committee to receive an update on the care market, including extra costs to Westminster, impact on cash flow and staffing in care homes.  Action for Bernie Flaherty – Bi-Borough Executive Director for Adult Social Care & Health)

5.         Data to be provided on call performance/abandonment, including call performance of the Councillor phone line.  (Action for Gerald Almeroth - Executive Director of Finance & Resources)

6.         Committee to receive details of the performance of the virtual school during the Covid-19 lockdown period.  (Action for Sarah Newman - Bi-Borough Executive Director of Children’s Services)

7.         Information to be provided on resident satisfaction derived from the City Survey – and during the Covid-19 lockdown period if available.  (Action for Sophie Shore – Strategy & Intelligence)

8.         A report to be provided on the Community Contribution, to include the collection and allocation of sums; how sustainability was established; the robustness and transparency of the allocation process (including governance, monitoring and decision making); testing of validity of organisations, including in the Covid-19 context; and robustness of reporting and management of benefits.  (Action for Gerald Almeroth - Executive Director of Finance & Resources)