Issue - meetings

To receive the exceptions report on financial and performance information for period 11 of 2010/11.

RECEIVED the Council’s Performance Report for February 2011 (Period 11) and the advance questions and responses, presented by Margaret Gallagher (Performance Manager) and Kevin Bartle (Lead Finance Officer).  It was noted that officers were in the process of closing the Council’s financial accounts for the year and expected a balanced position.

The following was noted in response to supplementary questions and discussions.

Q1 – Self Directed Support – The number of existing clients who had moved to personalised budgets including people receiving direct payments was increasing from 219 in February to 276 currently.

Q2. – Closure of drop-in and day centres – officers emphasised that all service users will be re-assessed during the closures.  Members recognised that carers and their needs would be affected and highlighted that young carers should be identified and supported.  The Deputy Director – Children’s Network highlighted that young carers were identified by schools, children’s and adults services and the Safeguarding Children Board was conducting some work on young carers.

Paragraph 2.4 of the report – In response to its questions the Committee was assured that, despite the 7.4 million temporary growth provision for the department in 2012, Children’s Services was doing all it could to reduce the budget and had contributed £10 million to the Council’s £41 million of savings.

Re. NI 156 – Number of households living in temporary accommodation – a Member asked if this target was realistic and officers explained that the target of 2,678 had been set in previous years but the Council was aiming to maintain a target of 3000 but due to the current climate was achieving 3,305.

Re. paragraph 15.5 - the Committee asked what was being done to increase occupancy at the Technopark and requested Action 176.1 (copied below from the OSC meeting held on 21 February 2011) be chased (Action No. 249).

The Committee asked for a briefing note on the low occupancy of the Technopark (paragraph 15.5 – Period 9) including:

1. How many units there were?
2. How many units were let (what %) and to what sort of businesses, how many people were employed in them and what income they yielded?
3. How many units (%) were used by council services?
4. How many units (%) were occupied by the community and voluntary sector and were these provided for free or at a reduced rent (detail to be provided)? (Action No. 176.1).

Re. Paragraph 14.8 – Complaints – in response to concerns about the lack of information the Committee noted that a separate more detailed report about complaints was available on request.

L0568J – Satisfaction with repair of roads and pavements – a Member asked whether the figures were based on resident satisfaction that works had been conducted or about the actual quality of the work.  Officers explained this was dependant on how the individual perceived the wording of the questionnaire in the yearly resident survey.

RESOLVED to note the report.