Issue - meetings

Q1 Integrated Performance Report 2024/25

Meeting: 25/09/2024 - Resources and Fire & Rescue Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 4)

4 Q1 Integrated Performance Report 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The item was introduced by Craig Cusack (Director, Enabling Services). He reminded members the report was divided into four sections covering areas within the Committee’s remit: progress against the Council Delivery Plan; performance measures; financial assessment; and risk. Of the issues relevant to the Committee, 80 per cent of activities relating to the Council Delivery Plan were on track and 61 per cent of performance measures were on track to be met. Four performance issues had been identified. These included the budget and delivery of savings, due to the current demand and cost pressures facing the Council. Another related to staff sickness rates. Craig Cusack reminded members a briefing note on staff sickness had been circulated prior to the meeting as requested at the Committee’s previous meeting. Other identified issues related to WFRS and some delays in site-specific business cases from the Warwickshire Property Development Group.

 

Responding to a point raised by Councillor Tim Sinclair regarding staff sickness, Kate Sullivan (Head of Strategic HR) said rates had increased and active steps were being taken to address this. However, increases in staff sickness rates reflected a national trend and were not unique to Warwickshire. There were some pockets of longer-term sickness, and tackling these was a key priority. Work had taken place to address this, but the long-term nature of the challenge meant there would be a delay before its impact was seen in the data. Councillor Sinclair noted wellbeing scores recorded in the staff engagement survey had been above target, and this should be viewed as a positive.

 

Councillor Sinclair proposed an update report on staff sickness to show progress should be presented at a future meeting. This was seconded by the Chair and agreed by all members.

 

Responding to a question from Councillor Boad, Kate Sullivan said around half of staff had not had any sickness absences in the last year, and there had been a reduction in short-term absences. Some staff working remotely might be more inclined to work while unwell as they did not have to travel or risk infecting colleagues. However, a balance needed to be found as working while unwell may lead to longer-term absences.

 

Responding to a question from Councillor Feeney regarding fire protection inspections, Ben Brook said all of the issues relating to the His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) cause for concern regarding protection had been addressed except for the introduction of a risk management IT system. The protection inspections had been paused for three weeks while the new IT system was thoroughly tested to ensure it was fit for purpose. Inspections had now recommenced following the implementation of the new IT system. Ben Brook said although the performance measure relating to inspections had been behind target, this had been done deliberately to allow for the implementation and testing of the IT system. He confirmed the target was for 600 inspections to take place per year.

 

Responding to a question from Councillor Feeney regarding the Medium-Term Financial  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4