Issue - meetings

To consider the Chief Executive’s Corporate Performance Overview Report for quarter four (January to March) of the 2009/10 financial year.

In view of the size of the agenda, the Chairman has asked that any detailed questions arising from the report should be referred to the Assistant Chief Executive in advance and only raised in the meeting if you consider the issue requires wider discussion.

The Commission considered and noted the Chief Executive’s Corporate Performance Overview Report (CPOR) for the fourth quarter, January to March, of the 2009/10 financial year.

Arising from questions or in discussion –

• Paragraph 3.4 on page 35 – A review of the housing register entries accompanied the launch of the choice-based lettings scheme and resulted in an 18% reduction in the number of households on the register.  Councillor Mrs Shillcock expressed concern that people may not have completed their registration forms correctly, resulting in de-registration, and asked if there had been any follow-up action.  The Director of Corporate Services did not know the exact process but was sure that they were very careful.  The concerns would be conveyed to the Chief Officer: Housing  for a full explanation.
• Paragraph 3.7 on page 35 - 70 children were subject to a child protection plan, an increase of nearly 60% on the same period last year, an increase reflected nationally.  The Director of Corporate services commented that, following the outcome of the Baby P review, social workers had adopted a more cautious approach.  Councillor Mrs Birch also pointed out that children’s centres had been very successful and were identifying more cases requiring referral.
• Reference 7.2.5 on page 39 – the Director of Corporate Services confirmed that Communications and Marketing would assist with the campaign to raise awareness of the need for foster carers for children and teenagers throughout the year rather than concentrating on one main campaign.