Agenda item

To present the report of the Head of Performance, Digital and Modernisation.

The report of the Head of Digital, Performance and Modernisation incorporating the Corporate Scorecard for Quarter 3 of the 2025/26 financial year was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The scorecard report details the performance of key indicators in delivering the Council’s day to day operations which support the broader objectives of the Council Plan.

Councillor Carwyn Jones, Portfolio Member for Housing and Community Safety presented the scorecard report noting that  the majority of indicators (86%) with set targets performed well during the quarter, achieving Green or Yellow RAG status. Notable examples of good performance are detailed in section 2.3 of the report. Eight indicators are currently rated Red or Amber against their targets – these, and the associated mitigation measures are detailed in section 2.2 of the report and relate to Social Care and Wellbeing (re-referrals within Children’s Services), Housing Services (re-letting void properties and delivery of Disabled Facilities Grants), the Economy (the total number of customers with mooring contacts and the percentage of high risk businesses subject to planned inspections that were inspected for compliance with food hygiene legislation), Climate Change (specifically waste recycling), and Whole Council Health (timeliness of responses to FOI requests). He confirmed that all these areas are being monitored by the Leadership Team.

In reviewing the corporate scorecard for the third quarter, the committee raised the following matters –

·      The committee wanted to know what more could be done to increase the percentage of visits to the Welsh language interface of the Council’s main website.

Members were advised that the Welsh Language forum has been discussing ways to make forms, documentation and consultations easier and more accessible through the medium of Welsh. The performance indicator is also monitored by the Welsh Language Steering Group. Although there has been a slight improvement, further consideration will be given to additional actions when the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy is reviewed at the end of the year. The Council would like to see a higher percentage of users accessing the Welsh language interface, particularly given that Anglesey has one of the highest densities of Welsh speakers. One of the challenges is encouraging residents to feel confident that their standard of Welsh is good enough to use the Welsh language version of the site.

·      Members noted a decline in the Q3 performance in Climate Change PI 02 – the percentage of domestic waste reused, recycled or composted when compared with the Q3 performance over the past two years. Members acknowledged that dry weather earlier in the year had reduced the amount of green waste collected, and they queried whether the target for Q3 should be adjusted to reflect this. Members also asked whether the Council had engaged with other authorities that have successfully met Welsh Government’s 70% recycling target.

The committee was advised that the Council does engage with other councils through various forums and organisations, including the WLGA and the Regional Partnership Board. The Council has identified that its food waste recycling rate at 52kg per household is significantly lower than that of councils achieving the 70% target which are averaging around 126kg per household. This remains a key challenge. The Council will analyse  feedback from the public consultation to identify lessons, particularly around increasing  food waste recycling. The communications team continues to promote recycling messages and the Council participates in a national recycling campaign – Be Mighty. Recycle. It was suggested that more direct engagement, including visits, may be needed to raise awareness and educate residents. The message may be that if residents wish to avoid a move to four weekly waste collections, recycling levels including food waste, must increase.

In response to a question regarding the decline in recycling within Council buildings - and the importance of the Council setting an example if it expects residents to improve their own recycling - it was confirmed that an action plan has been developed to improve performance. Measures include strengthened communication, recycling champions within  departments, benchmarking activity and regular progress tracking.

·      Members asked when it was likely that the council would meet the 51 day target for re-letting void properties under Housing PI 03.

Thery were advised that the trend is improving and that, for units processed since April, 2026, the average void time stands at 57.8 days. Around 270 units are managed each year, representing a significant workload.  It was also noted that access to a void property can sometimes be delayed, for example when a tenant has died. Capacity within the service has been increased, and the Portfolio Member for Housing continues to meet  regularly with the Voids team to monitor progress.

The Head of Housing Services, responding to concerns about Plas Alltran remaining vacant and showing signs of deterioration six months after its redevelopment as social housing for care leavers, provided a brief update on the situation. He noted that the property is still within the defect liability period attached to the refurbishment contract, and discussions with the contractor are underway to address outstanding matters. As the building is listed, CADW’s approval is required before any additional works can be undertaken. He advised that work is expected to commence in the coming weeks.

·      With regard to Economy PI 07 – the percentage of high risk businesses subject to planned inspections that were inspected to ensure compliance with food hygiene legislation, members noted that the 2026/27 budget includes an additional allocation for food safety inspections. Members asked how this funding would be used.

They were advised that that investment will strengthen capacity and resilience, enabling the service to address the existing inspections backlog while maintaining current inspection levels so that no new backlog develops. Priority will be given to high risk businesses, particularly those handling high risk food products. The service has also been managing the introduction of new licensing regulations for special  procedures which has required capacity to be redirected. During the period,  34 practitioner licences were issued, and the team also responded to two health and safety incidents. The aim is to clear the backlog by the end of quarter 4.

·      Members queried whether increased capacity would lead to improved performance for Housing PIs 04 and 05 which relate to the delivery of disabled facilities grants both up to and over £10k.

Members were advised that the targets will not be met by the end of the financial year, as the budget for the year has been fully allocated, resulting in delays to new approvals.

·      The Director of Social Services  explained in relation to Social Care and Wellbeing PI 08 -  the percentage of referrals of children that are re-referrals within 12 months, which was rated Red for the quarter - that cases previously closed following intervention can be re-referred for a variety of reasons. The service intends to carry out a detailed examination of these cases and work directly with the families involved to understand what aspects of the initial intervention could be improved. The position is being monitored and the data for quarter 4 so far does not indicate that the trend is continuing. 

·      With regard to questions about the Economy - particularly business units let and initiatives to support people into work -  the committee was advised that an update on Freeport activity was presented to the Partnerships and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee the previous day. The Council has been particularly successful in letting business units with performance above target and has also secured NWEAB Growth Deal funding for business units in the north of the island. The Council works with partners in the third sector such as Môn CF to support people back into work or help them start new businesses.

    The committee welcomed the performance of the Council’s services overall and expressed particular appreciation for the work of Housing Services, recognising their continued efforts to improve outcomes. Members also commended the Food Inspection Team for their support, advice and responsiveness despite a demanding workload.

Having reviewed the Corporate Scorecard for Q3 2025/26 and having regard to the responses to the issues raised, the Corporate Scrutiny Committee resolved –

·      To note the Corporate Scorecard report for Q3 2025/26 including the areas which the Leadership Team is exploring and investigating to manage and secure further improvements into the future. These were in relation to Social Care and Wellbeing (re-referrals of children within a 12 month period); Housing (re-letting of void properties and delivery of Disabled Facilities Grants)  Economy (number of annual mooring contracts and inspection of high risk business for compliance with food hygiene legislation), Climate Change (Domestic Waste recycling) and Whole Council Health (responses to FOI requests within timescale).

·      To recommend the scorecard report and mitigating measures outlined therein to the Executive.