Agenda item

(A report by James Gilbert, Assistant Director – Corporate)

The Committee received a report by the Group Manager – Insight and Transformation on Quarter 2 Performance, covering the period to the end of September 2025. Details of the performance indicators were listed in Appendix A within the report.

Members were reminded that the performance framework included 92 indicators for Boston Borough Council, aligned to the Sub-regional Strategy. Of these, 27 were targeted measures using a red, amber, and green rating system, and 65 were trend indicators providing contextual insight.

The report highlighted that overall performance was broadly on track, with remedial actions in place for off-target indicators. Commentary was provided for red-rated measures, including:

·         Industrial Unit Occupancy – Two units were vacant at the end of Q2, with new tenants expected in Q3.

·         Homelessness Decisions – Timeliness of decisions had improved following recruitment and restructuring, with performance now above target.

·         Recycling – The annual recycling rate remained below the 45% stretch target; seasonal trends and contamination rates were noted, and Members requested updates on food waste initiatives and compliance with the Environment Act.

Members emphasised the importance of using quarterly data to identify emerging issues early. Several Members expressed concern about the continued gap in recycling performance and questioned whether the 45% target was realistic given current infrastructure. Officers advised that the target aligned with regional benchmarks and was intended to drive improvement rather than reflect current capacity.

Questions were raised about homelessness prevention outcomes, particularly the proportion of cases resolved through sustaining existing tenancies versus securing alternative accommodation. Officers confirmed that while overall prevention rates were high, more work was needed to increase in-situ prevention to reduce costs and pressure on temporary accommodation.

The Committee also discussed the value of trend indicators, noting that while they did not have targets, they provided useful context for policy decisions. Members agreed that homelessness, recycling, and industrial unit occupancy should remain priority areas for potential scrutiny and requested that future reports include commentary on workforce capacity and any financial implications linked to underperformance.

Members welcomed the clarity of the dashboard and raised several points for inclusion in future reports:

·         Industrial Unit Data: Members requested that data on industrial unit occupancy and performance be included in the Quarter 3 report to allow comparative analysis.

·         Temporary Accommodation Figures: Members asked for a detailed breakdown of families and children in temporary accommodation, including bed and breakfast placements.

·         Fly-Tipping Trends: While collection rates were high (95%), Members expressed concern about increasing fly-tipping incidents across the borough and requested an update on hotspot areas and enforcement measures. confirmed that monthly fly-tipping figures were published on the Council’s website.

·         Battery Disposal Incidents: Members highlighted recent national reports of fires caused by batteries in waste streams and asked for confirmation of any local incidents and steps being taken to raise public awareness.

·         Target Review: Members queried whether performance targets could be reviewed before the Council’s abolition. Officers confirmed that targets were reviewed annually and could also be adjusted quarterly if required.

Resolved:

1.    That the report be noted; and

2.    That the requested updates, outlined above, be incorporated into future reports.