Agenda item

The Strategic Director of Resources introduced his report highlighting the Council’s overall performance from delivery of service to financial management.  The report focused on performance management, the revenue and capital monitoring position and central debt management. 

The Director drew particular attention to the findings of the Annual Performance Assessment (APA) process for Adult Social Care Services which had received a three star “excellent” rating in respect of both the delivery of outcomes and the capacity for improvement.  This was the fourth year that the Council had achieved three stars for this service but it was the first year that a judgment of “excellent” had been achieved in both delivering outcomes and capacity to improve, reflecting an improvement on the previous year.  This was the highest rating that could be achieved.  It was noted that the star rating and performance judgments contributed to the Council’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) rating and would continue to do so under the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) performance framework.  However, from 2009 onwards, the Adult Social Care “capacity to improve” judgment would only be reflected in the Council’s CAA rating and not the APA rating.

Members raised a number of issues on the report:-

·  Members welcomed the achievement of the Adult Social Care Service in receiving such an excellent judgment and the Director explained the work that had taken place both corporately and within the Department to achieve improvements over the result in the previous year. 

·  In respect of debt recovery, several Members asked for clarification of the Council’s attitude to individuals in debt because of the current financial situation and sought assurances that the Council took a sympathetic approach where families were in real hardship through loss of employment etc.  The Strategic Director explained that where payments were missed, the first letter was sent within 14 days with a further two letters following.  Before any formal legal action was taken, arrangements were made for Officers to meet informally with the individuals involved to talk through any problems they may be having and, where possible, put arrangements in place for debt counselling, access to advice services and arrangements for the repayment of the debt over a longer period.  However, the authority had a duty to collect all outstanding debts although, where it was deemed to be appropriate, a sympathetic approach was taken.

·  A Member asked whether there were a number of persistent non-payers of Council Tax.  The Director responded that there were a small number that fell into this category and these debts were pursued, if necessary, over a number of years.  However, in overall terms, the Officers were striving to improve in- year Council Tax collection rates given that Council Tax made up 45% of the authority’s income.  He explained that, in the current year, the Council had achieved the highest ever in-year collection of Council Tax and this was all the more significant given the fact that Slough’s population was extremely fluid as compared to some other authorities.  A number of measures had been put in place to improve collection including paperless direct debit, a review of the letters sent out to individuals so that they were easier to understand, and the introduction of informal meetings with debtors before formal Court action was taken.  However, there was still work to be done to improve the collection rate even further. 

·  Members sought further information on the year on year position in respect of the collection of debt and the Director undertook to provide a more detailed report to the next meeting.  He did however comment that the provision for bad debts made within the budget was quite low.

·  Information was sought as to whether some businesses within the town were struggling to pay business rates on empty properties and what attitude the Council took in such circumstances.  The Director commented that Officers were speaking to a number of business ratepayers who were in financial difficulties but, at the end of the day, business rates were collected on behalf of central government and if the authority did not collect them, it fell back on the ordinary Council Tax payers to meet any shortfall.  However, where appropriate, discussions took place with businesses having cash flow difficulties to attempt to assist them.

Resolved -   That the report be noted.