Agenda and minutes

To receive any declaration of interest from any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

Councillor Jackie Lewis declared a personal interest in any item that refers to Menter Môn and the economy.

To present the minutes of the previous meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 13 June 2024.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 13 June, 2024 were confirmed as correct.

To present the report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation.

The report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation incorporating the Corporate Scorecard for Quarter 1 2024/2025 was presented for the Committee’s consideration. 

The report was presented by Councillor Carwyn Jones, Portfolio Member for Corporate Business and Customer Experience and noted that the scorecard for the 2024/2025 is presented in its new format and portrays the Council’s performance against the strategic objectives outlined in the Council Plan.   A number of KPI’s are new, many currently do not have targets and are there to set a baseline, with some data not available until end of the year.  Trends will however be monitored from Q2 during 2024/2025 with the aim of setting targets in 2024/2025.  He noted that 94% of the indicators with targets monitored during the quarter performed well. He referred to two indicators that requires improvement : Freedom of Information (FOI) requests responded to within timescale and the percentage of high-risk businesses that have been inspected in accordance with the food hygiene standards.  Councillor Carwyn Jones further referred that 68.46% of year 11 pupils are studying Welsh as first language which is a good achievement with an Amber indicator, and it is hoped that this will increase.  He referred to the Children’s Services which has seen above target levels and the Leisure Services which has seen over 130,000 people using the service compared to the target level of 115,000.  The percentage of pupil’s attendance in primary schools, following the pandemic has increase.  Other good performance was to be found with 22 new Council home developed, and former homes purchased and brough back into Council rented homes compared to the target of 11 and 16 empty private properties brought back into use through the Empty Homes interventions.  The percentage of planning enforcement cases investigated within 84 days reached a 97% performance against the target of 80% and the percentage of 86% of council business units let.  He further referred that the percentage of streets that are clean have exceed the target of 96.60% following an inspection by the Highways Department.  The proportion of low carbon (electric) vehicles within the Council fleet is 12% which is good performance. 

The Members noted the examples of good performances during Q1 and thanked the Officers and staff.  In scrutinising the report, the following points of discussion were raised by the Committee and the Portfolio Member for Corporate Business and Customer Experience and Officers responded to the questions raised.

• 94% of the Authority’s performance indicators with targets monitored performed well, which is a positive report at the end of Quarter 1.  Questions were asked as to what assurance can be given that the remaining 2 indicators will improve.

• Food Hygiene Inspection -  it was noted that a total of 22 premises have now been inspected out of the target of 31.  Capacity issues enabling the inspections to be undertaken have been a problem as priority has been given to high-risk food hygiene premises.  A work programme has been implemented within the service to comply with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To present the report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation.

The report of the Head of Profession (HR) and Transformation incorporating the annual Performance and Wellbeing Report for 2023/2024 was presented for the Committee’s consideration.

The report was presented by Councillor Carwyn Jones, Portfolio Member for Corporate Business and Customer Experience.  He said that the report presents a year of notable achievements that have contributed to several improvements and provides a firm foundation to support the Council despite the economic challenges ahead.  He referred to the work undertaken by the Language Forum and noted that it was a pleasure been able to attend an event by the Forum during the Anglesey Agricultural Show held in August and the collaboration undertaken to promote the Welsh language is positive.  He further referred to the Social Care and Wellbeing - projects and especially to the work undertaken by the leisure service in completing the 3D pitch in Bodedern.  A third provision of the Cartrefi Clyd project has been undertaken which is a benefit for the young people to be able to live within their local communities and resulting in savings within the Council’s budget.  Education projects - the Curriculum for Wales is in place in all schools and systems have been developed to measure the impact of work relating to well-being, inclusion and welfare on children, young people and the workforce.  Housing – work continues to develop plans for an Extra Care Housing Development at Tyddyn Mostyn, Menai Bridge.  Economy – additional business units have been completed in Llangefni and Holyhead.  Climate Change – investment in buildings to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy use and reduce the Councils carbon emissions have been undertaken.  He thanked the staff of the Council for their achievements and hard work over the course of the year. 

In scrutinising the report, the following points of discussion were raised by the Committee and the Portfolio Member for Corporate Business and Customer Experience and Officers responded to the questions raised.

• The report presents a year of notable achievements which have contributed to a number of improvements on the Island.  Questions were asked as to what arrangements are in place to promote and share these achievements across the organisation and beyond.  The Portfolio Member for Corporate Business and Customer Experience responded that the Communications Unit within the Council is responsible for advertising the notable achievements attained by the Council through press releases and social media.  The Corporate Planning Programme and Performance Manager said that the Annual Performance Report 2023/2024 will be considered by the full Council at its meeting at the end of this month and it is anticipated that a press release will be made to promote the achievements of the Council over the 2023/2024 period.
• Questions were asked as to what specific performance areas should be prioritised on the basis of risk during 2024/2025.  The Corporate Planning Programme and Performance Manager referred to the Annual Corporate Self-Assessment 2023/2024 report that was presented to this Committee at its meeting held in July.  Within the Annual Corporate Self-Assessment report, six priority  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To present the report of the Scrutiny Manager.

The report of the Scrutiny Manager incorporating the Committee’s Forward Work Programme for 2024/2025 was presented for consideration.

It was RESOLVED to agree the current version of the Forward Work Programme for 2024/2025 as presented.