Agenda item

Consider report by Director – People, Performance & Change. (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Director People, Performance and Change which presented a summary of Scottish Borders Council’s Quarter 2 2022/23 performance information.  The information contained within the report would also be made available on the SBC website at www.scotborders.gov.uk/performance.   The Director, People, Performance and Change, explained that the appendices to the report showed the performance the Council against the Council Plan themes.  In response to feedback the report would be altered for the next Quarter to combine Council Plan milestones and benchmarking into a single appendix.  Appendix 1 to the report showed performance compared to milestones.   Work on the Rural Exchange Network of 4G had not progressed, and had now been tied to the Borderlands Digital Programme.  Participation in Get into Summer 2022 programme had been strong, with 902 children taking part, supported by 425 parents.  A 250 mile coast to coast cycle route had received the approval and h to the delivery stage.  Adult Support & Protection had been inspected in August and September, with a positive outcome published by the Care Inspectorate on 18 October 2022.  The Community Action Team had carried out 68 static road checks, 13 person drug searches, and 13 premises drug searches.  77% of the drug searches had been positive.   The overall recycling rate was very positive, with 55.78% of household waste recycled.  Less than 1% of household waste in the region was sent to landfill.  Attendance at primary and secondary schools had improved.  There had been one asset transfer received in the Quarter.  The 80% target of looked after children of all ages in family based placements had not been achieved.  In response to a question regarding the drop in the number of foot patrols carried out by the CAT, Councillor Pirone explained that members of the CAT had been engaged in work related to the search for a missing person.  In instances where the CAT was unable to carry out the appropriate amount of work then a refund to SBC of the money paid to support the work of the team was made.   Regarding energy consumption classified as green, the Director undertook to provide more explanatory comments.   Members highlighted that more work needed to be done to ensure that colour schemes did not lead to confusion.  The Acting Chief Executive explained that with regard to the working age population claimant rate, the 18-24 claimant rate had been static, whilst the overall 16-64 rate had reduced.  The Director explained that the number of high risk domestic abuse cases discussed at Multi Risk Assessment Conference was higher than previous years had been marked as green because that increase represented an improvement in the number of cases which were reported to authorities and were being addressed. 

DECISION

AGREED to:-

(a)        note the Quarter 2 2022/23 Council Plan Performance Report in Appendix 1 to the report;

(b)       note the Quarter 2 2022/23 Community Action Team Performance Report in Appendix 2 to the report; and

(c)        note the Quarter 2 2022/23 Performance Indicators Report in Appendix 3 to the report.