Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council submitted a report that provided Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an update on performance against LEAF priorities over the 2025/26 year and invited comments from Committee Members for refreshed LEAF priorities going forward.

The Committee was advised that the Corporate Plan was first considered by Council in February 2024 and Overview and Scrutiny Committee last considered the annual report in June 2025 - for Members to review performance and to comment on the plan.

The Leader said that the latest report provided an update on performance, and he welcomed suggestions, comments and thoughts from Members in respect of possible updates or amendments to the Corporate Plan.

The Chair praised the officers who had been involved in developing the mobile phone application that had been introduced in respect of waste collections. The Vice-Chair also commented positively on the app and its functionality.

The Vice-Chair commented on the increase in recycling and the reductions in the residual waste, and also the work that needed to be continued in respect of improvements to air quality. He touched on the importance of the resources required going forward to tackle this issue in the district.

Members had a brief discussion in respect of housing delivery. The Director for Communities said that the year-on-year fluctuations in respect of the housing delivery cycle was dependent on what sites were completed in any given year.

The Committee discussed the consultation process and communication regarding the Local Governance Review (LGR). Members stressed the importance of effective consultation processes, particularly in relation to the Community Governance Review.

The Leader said that the council needed to be very focussed consultations on LGR. Officers confirmed that lessons have been learned from recent consultations. Members were advised that future consultations would be well publicised and there was a new engagement platform called “Your Voice” and this was working very well.

Members talked about the decline in email feedback and the drop in the satisfaction ratings. The Director for Regeneration, Customer and Community Services said that the feedback the mechanism currently used in customer services emails would be extended to all Officers and this was expected to improve monitoring and insight into customer interactions.

Councillor Cox proposed, and Councillor Clements seconded, a motion that Members review performance over the 2025/26 year and Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommend any refreshed or amended LEAF priorities to the Executive.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) Members review performance over the 2025/26 year; and

(B)   Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommend any refreshed or amended LEAF priorities to Executive.