Agenda item

Council Plan Overview Report (CPOR) covering the second quarter of 2021/22 is attached.

Members of the Commission are asked to submit technical or detailed questions in advance of the meeting.

The Executive Director: Resources at Bracknell Forest Council, Stuart McKellar, introduced the Council Plan Overview Report (CPOR) covering the second quarter of 2021/22. The Executive Director: Resources highlighted that:

·       There was a slight change to the format of the CPOR from previous versions as it included a more detailed update on the activity of the Chief Executive’s office. This was due to separate quarterly reports being created for the Resources Directorate and the Place, Planning and Regeneration Team.

·       The Council was on track to deliver the Corporate Plan except for transformation savings which was RAG rated red. The delay in transformation savings was largely due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the People Directorate. Members were assured the groundwork had been done in this area, but the transformation team were not as far ahead as they hoped they would be at this point.

·       Changes to The Lookout Café meant there was a more exciting offer for residents which would help to generate more income and bring visitors back.

·       The Council had allocated a number of business grants across the borough.

·       The draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy for the borough was out for consultation and progressing well.

·       There was a slight delay on some traffic works around the borough, but these were being addressed.

·       There was a global issue obtaining IT equipment, which had been an issue, but good progress had been made this quarter by the team and new starters were receiving kit.

·       Work was being carried out to ensure Time Square would be ready when it was reopened to the public. This included a new café area and soundproof, glass booths for staff to meet with residents.

·       The Bracknell Forest Giants in the Town Centre had proved hugely popular and brought many people back into town. It was noted there had been good publicity reach for this initiative.

·       The corporate peer challenge took place during this quarter and feedback was overwhelmingly positive about Bracknell Forest Council.

·       The Council had taken steps to support vulnerable people. This included additional welfare support for children eligible for Free School Meals, such as  meals over the holiday period, and that support was continuing currently.

·       It was anticipated there would be a small underspend in the budget when previously there was a risk of an overspend. The anticipated underspend was due to the situation not deteriorating as quickly as predicted because car parks and leisure centres were being well used again.

The following questions were asked:

·       In response to a query about the amber RAG rating and low number of apprenticeships available in the Council (Page 27) the Executive Director: Resources explained two teams who were currently in the middle of a restructure (Digital Services and Human Resources & Organisational Development) would be creating a total of five apprenticeships in the near future. The delay to creating more apprenticeships was partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic impacting on teams’ ability to take on new starters requiring a lot of assistance, particularly in the People Directorate.

·       In response to a query about leases at Everyone Active Leisure Centre (Page 29) the Executive Director: Delivery, Kevin Gibbs, stated one lease was currently being investigated, as it was the subject of a complaint, and more would be known once that was concluded.

·       A query was raised about use of agency staff and what the Council were doing to employ more permanent staff. The Executive Director: Resources explained senior leaders would be discussing a report tomorrow which drew together all agency staff and should allow better visibility of use of agency staff across the Council. A strategy was also being proposed to gradually reduce agency staff and understand why we have them. It was noted the majority of agency staff were in the demand led sector, so would be hard to reduce, and part of the strategy would look at terms and conditions for permanent staff to promote Bracknell Forest Council as an attractive place to work. This piece of work was being overseen by the Employment Committee.

·       In response to a question about the increase in the number of complaints the Council received in 2022, compared to 2021, the Executive Director: Resources explained 2021 was the blip year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the number of complaints were in line with previous years.

·       It was queried why an extra grant for the past two years to assist young people classed as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) to find jobs had been withdrawn this year. Executive Director: People, Grainne Siggins, offered to provide a written response to this question.

·       In response to a question about how many Bracknell Forest Libraries were now open as ‘open plus sites’ the Executive Director: Delivery offered to provide a written response following the meeting.

·       Members asked if the SLA (Service Level Agreement) with South Hill Park had been signed and the Executive Director: Delivery explained a specification had been agreed, and was largely being worked to, but the SLA was yet to be signed. It was agreed an update would be provided at the next meeting.

·       It was confirmed that it was intended for the Café at Time Square to provide more than tea/coffee in the future. The Council had explored providing accommodation to other organisations at Time Square, including the voluntary sector, although an agreement for Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust to use space for some staff had not been reached.

·       In response to a question about the transfer of land assets, such as playgrounds, from Bracknell Forest Council to Parish/Town Councils in the borough the Executive Director: Delivery agreed to provide a written response.

·       In response to a query about a parking bay scheme in Bracknell Town it was agreed the Executive Director: Resources would provide a written response.

·       The issue of old street signs and parking bay signs was discussed and the Executive Director: Resources advised Commission members there was funding in the proposed budget 2022/23 for local greening initiatives and to make places tidier, which could be used to update these types of signs.

·       It was queried why a target had been set of 5,000 for the number of customer visits to Time Square when it was not accessible to the public yet. It was explained this target was set last Summer and agreed it was now inappropriate.

·       It was noted that due to technical issues Councillor Bidwell was unable to ask his question directly during the meeting and this would be followed up outside of the meeting.