Agenda item

The Sub-Committee is provided the latest Financial Performance Monitoring report, to review by exception, with a view to considering whether it is reassured about the delivery of the 2023-24 Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery Budget.

The Sub-Committee considered a report set out on pages 23 to 62 of the agenda that provided the Cabinet Report on Period 9 Financial Performance for Members to ascertain whether they are reassured about the delivery of the 2022-23 Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery (SCRER) Budget. The Corporate Director of SCRER introduced the item.

The Chair asked about the forecasted £0.6m income pressure resulting from the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA). The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that pressure on this income target was due to fewer coring inspections in 2023/24. The Sub-Committee heard that the income target would continue to be monitored to ascertain whether it may need to be revised.

The Chair asked about a £0.5m pressure in Parking Services due to connection and configuration issues with the newly installed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that it was not uncommon to have ANPR shortfalls as a result of camera vandalism and regular maintenance faults, and that these issues were not at a higher level than was normal. It was highlighted that opposition to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) had resulted in some vandalism to the Council’s ANPR camera network. Members heard that parking income was reflecting the anticipated income targets but it was acknowledged that there had been some behavioural change accelerated by the pandemic, such as greater levels of residents working from home and different shopping habits.

The Chair queried the forecast underspend of £1.7m in staffing owing to periods of vacancy and the £1.2m forecast underspend in waste services owing to reduced tonnage level of waste. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that household waste tonnage had reduced since the pandemic due to a number of residents returning to office based work. Members were informed that a number of posts had been difficult to fill, particularly programme and project managers in the Regeneration team, but that a recruitment campaign would be commencing shortly. The Council’s successful bid to the Levelling Up Fund, in conjunction with Growth Zone Funding, meant that Croydon now had a good amount of funding to spend; it was thought that this would make working in regeneration in Croydon a more attractive prospect.

The Chair asked about income underachievement of £0.6m in the Planning and Sustainable Regeneration Division, owing to lower activity levels in planning major applications and planning performance agreements. The Corporate Director of SCRER acknowledged that this was a challenge and that there had been a reduction in major applications and pre-applications. The Sub-Committee heard that this was a trend that was being seen London and nationwide, due to economic and regulatory factors. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that there was still significant income being generated but that it was less than the income target; this target would continue to be reviewed during 2024/25 to see whether it needed to be revised during the next budget setting process. Members asked if the Council would still be able to meet its housing targets and heard that Croydon was continuing to monitor this, but was currently meeting its targets and Five Year Supply.

The Sub-Committee asked what the Council was doing to attract development to Croydon. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that the Council had a Planning Transformation plan in place to deliver on the recommendations made by the Planning Advisory Service review in 2022. Members heard that performance in the Planning department was strong against national indicators, and that the Council was engaging through its Developer’s Forum and Resident’s Associations; there were also continuing efforts to digitalise planning services, where possible, to increase accessibility and efficiency.

The Sub-Committee asked about the Capitalisation Direction of £9.439m for 2019-20 required to make a payment to a former contractor in relation to a historic claim relating to a contract held during the period 2011-18. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that an independent Adjudication Panel had decided to award monies arising from a dispute from a former highways maintenance contract. Members heard that the Council would continue to see if any money could be recovered through arbitration.

The Chair asked about the Planning Skills Delivery Fund bid and was informed that £180,000 had been secured through two bids; these were to support clearing the backlog and the digitalisation of services. The Sub-Committee heard that significant progress had already been made in clearing the backlog to a manageable caseload level for planning officers.