Agenda item

Aelodau'r Pwyllgor i drafod Adroddiad Cyflawniad Chwarter 3 y Cyngor (2021/22).

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services presented Members with the Quarter 3 Performance Report which set out the Council’s financial and operational performance position for April to December 2021. This was set in the context of Council services and communities continuing their recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. The report was presented and approved by Cabinet on the 21st of March 2022.  The Service Director then gave an overview of the report by providing Members with key information from the report with regards to, Section 2, Revenue Budget Performance; Section 3, Capital Programme Budget; Section 4, Organisational Health information including staff turnover, sickness absence, Organisational Health related investment areas and Council Strategic Risks; Section 5, the Corporate Plan priority action plan updates including investment updates; and Section 6, a progress update on the implementation of recommendations agreed by Cabinet on the 18^th December 2021 to enhance the Council’s response to extreme weather events.

Following the update, Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions.

Councillor Evans referred to page 97 in relation to turnover and sought clarity around whether the Council had been successful in employing staff to fill vacancies in light of the high turnover rate.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services fed back that the Council’s workforce strategy supports services to plan workforce requirements, that includes an on-going commitment and focus on apprentices and graduates, alongside targeted recruitment for specific posts, to address where there are recruitment and retention challenges such as social care. The Service Director went on to indicate that the Council’s 2022/23 Budget Strategy provided additional funding to increase the minimum rate of pay to £10 per hour, this being above the Real Living Wage rate, and demonstrating the Council’s on-going investment in its workforce and to support service delivery.

Councillor Cullwick referred to the table at the top of page 97 of the report, and to the Chief Executives Division staff numbers of 697 in 2019/20, 827 in 2020/21 and 878 in 2021/22 and asked if there were any reasons behind that growth.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services fed back that the change in numbers reflect service restructuring that have realigned responsibility to the Chief Executive’s Division, for example, the consolidation of business and administrative support teams from across the Council and, in parallel, on-going work to secure external funding that enables the creation of posts to deliver specific projects.

Councillor Thomas thanked the Officer and commended the report. He noted the conclusion at paragraph 12.0 in respect of the small projected year-end revenue budget overspend and stated this was a good position to be in, given what had happened over the last 2 years. The Member asked how the local authority would address and mitigate the projected impact in terms of increases in prices in areas such as materials and energy.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services fed back that the Council’s Capital Programme, agreed by full Council in March 2022, covers a 3-year period and as projects / contracts are tendered, the cost implications and scope of works would be considered alongside re-profiling of funding opportunities. The Service Director added that the Council will continue its proactive approach around the procurement of goods and services, to support both the sustainability of contractors and value for money for the taxpayer, and this being underpinned by robust planning and monitoring arrangements.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services went on to indicate that the Council’s revenue budget had been based on inflationary forecasts at a point in time, for example, for fuel, food and energy, and consideration will be given as part of year-end arrangements to setting aside one-off funding to manage exceptional inflationary risk pressures, recognising the current volatility and uncertain operating environment. The Service Director added that inflationary forecasts will be kept under on-going review and updates incorporated into the Council’s next Medium Term Financial Plan that will form the starting point for the 2023/24 budget setting process. 

Councillor J Williams noted a pilot scheme being run by Hywel Dda University Health Board in relation to training health care workers and social care workers jointly. She asked whether the Council had looked at this type of joint training for social care and health care staff. Councillor J Williams also enquired when information would be available in relation to the green waste scheme and its impact.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services explained that Health and Social Care staff currently work in partnership on many areas as part of the on-going development of integrated services and indicated that further clarity would be sought from the relevant service area on the specific point raised.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services went on to provide feedback in respect of the green waste scheme, indicating that the scheme started in autumn 2021 and intelligence is being gathered to gauge impact alongside education and awareness raising for residents. The Service Director added that a further update will be included as part of the year-end Performance Report.

Councillor Yeo noted the issue of retaining social care staff, acknowledging that the minimum rate had been raised to £10 per hour. The Councillor felt going forward this was something that the Council should continue to do, stressing the importance of this as a result of rising inflation in areas such as fuel and food.

The Chair referred to pages 97, 125 and 134 and noted that sickness levels in schools seemed to be high and asked if this was a result of the relaxation in the Covid-19 rules.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services fed back that Covid-19 absences have been excluded from the information reported, albeit, it is likely that there has been a knock-on impact on other absences as a result of the pandemic. The Service Director added that the most prevalent reasons for absence are musculoskeletal and mental health, and the Council has a range of support available to help staff and aid return to the workplace.

The Chair referred to page 120 of the report noting the projected revenue budget underspends for Highways Management and Street Cleansing, and sought clarity whether there had been any impact on service delivery as a result of temporary staffing vacancies.

The Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services fed back that frontline service levels for Highways Management and Street Cleansing are being delivered in line with agreed standards, and where temporary staffing vacancies arise, operational resources are prioritised to meet service requirements. The Service Director added that these services engage regularly with elected Members and also take account of feedback received via the Council’s Corporate Feedback Scheme.

The Chair also sought clarity in respect of the projected revenue budget underspend for Strategic Projects, and whether this would be retained for the forthcoming financial year along with any funding for projects that would not be completed in 2021/22 and would need to be carried forward into 2022/23.  The Service Director fed back that the projected revenue budget underspend for Strategic Projects is feeding into the Council’s overall projected revenue budget position for 2021/22 and that detailed work has been undertaken with the service area to match service requirements and resources for the forthcoming year.

Following discussion, Members RESOLVED to endorse the Council’s financial and operational performance position as at 31^st December 2021 (Quarter 3).