Issue - meetings

Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Group Head of Organisational Excellence presented the report which sought to update the Committee on the Quarter 4 and end of year Performance Outturn for the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which made up the Corporate Plan, for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. It was explained that these indicators were measures of operational performance and the same indicators would be measured each year for the four year period to allow for comparison and trends to be measured both in-year and between years. One Member noted that some KPIs were beyond the control of the Council such as housing delivery and how many applications came in and so were naturally reactive rather than proactive. In response to this, a Member queried whether, if unrealistic, the KPIs themselves or the levels to which they were assessed could be changed. The Group Head of Organisational Excellence noted that these measures were linked to government targets that gave Arun limited scope to change them, and that amending them might be undesirable anyway as a baseline would be harder to establish with a moving target.

Another Member sought the reasons for the staff shortages given within CP26 [Major applications determined in 13 weeks or agreed extension of time]. The Group Head of Planning explained that major applications usually either involved a Section 106 Agreement or needed to come to Committee for approval, and, with either, it would not be possible to determine applications in 13 weeks. He further explained that the Council had had vacancies at experienced Planning Officer levels for a very long time, a situation that had worsen further in recent years, but that recruitment was proving unsuccessful and although consultants had been brought in to work at that level it was not the equivalent of having full-time permanent members of staff. The Committee then noted the report.