Agenda item

The Director of Corporate Resources provided an overview and highlighted that it had been a challenging period.  As national restrictions had lifted, the authority had managed the transition and recognised the health and safety of staff, customers and those using services who still required protection from Covid-19. It was also noted that the pandemic had an impact on service delivery and the long-term performance implications for some services would need to be carefully monitored and performance indicators may alter as a result.

 

Key areas impacted as a result of Covid-19 were highlighted as;

 

• Domestic Violence.
• Waste Collection.
• Fly Tipping.

 

Areas that performed well were:

 

• Business Rates Collection.
• Council Tax Collection.
• Directing spend within the local community.

 

Members were informed that the authority’s financial position was described as being balanced, having utilised resources given from government.  It was outlined that going forward there would need to be a detailed look at the challenges faced by services, and the implications on performance and resulting costs.

 

Councillors explored the following topics in more detail;

 

CONNECTED COUNCIL

 

Potential risks – In response to a question around potential risk, it was explained that there were three risk areas for the Council’s budget identified in the last quarter. 

 

An update on each was provided as follows;

 

1.     Children – there were unprecedented numbers of children referred to the service with increased costs for direct placements and social work support.  It was explained that this leads to delays in delivering savings as a result of the focus on children needing protection.  Members were reminded how the Future Placement Strategy, which sought to develop further provision within the borough had been delayed, and in the current market it was proving to be increasingly more challenging to deliver.

 

2.     Environment – Members heard that as a result of more people being at home, waste levels had increased since lockdown and the waste collection service had also experienced staffing challenges due to Covid and HGV driver shortages.  Fly tipping levels continued to be a challenge and additional resources had been introduced to manage this effectively.

 

3.     Business rates – It was recognised that whilst we need to monitor closely, performance in quarter 1 demonstrated that the top 50 largest businesses were on track to meet payment requirements.  Members were informed that consideration was currently being given to those on tapering arrangements to ensure they maintain pre-covid payment levels.  It was concluded that overall, the collection and payment rates were now at a pre-covid level.

 

4.     Sickness indicator – The committee noted an increase of absence and it was explained the authority set a challenging target due to low levels of sickness last year. It was reported that there were a number of staff on maternity leave and the workforce had become tired as a result of the pandemic.

 

5.     Staff Sickness and Long Covid – A Member raised concern about the impact of Long Covid on staff performance, and the future analysis of overall sickness and Covid related sickness within the authority.

 

DONCASTER LEARNING

 

Attendance and remote lessons – It was acknowledged that Doncaster School’s attendance levels during the pandemic were above national average.  It was explained that significant work had been carried out looking at how all children learn differently, and virtual learning and support helped transition those children who were absent for a range of reasons back into a school environment.  Members heard that there was concern about children going back to a largely populated environment; however, there would be an opportunity to transition into a smaller populated environment first.  Members heard that the authority looked at blended learning between virtual and physical as it was believed this helped students transition back into a physical setting, however, a full virtual offer would not be seen as formal attendance by the Department for Education.

 

Long Covid and Children’s attendance – Members were informed during the pandemic that welfare calls to families had been maintained, and it was reiterated that attendance levels remained above the national average.  Members heard that long Covid was an emerging issue with schools, therefore the authority had not issued fines for absences due to Long Covid or those with Covid anxieties.

 

Education and Healthcare Plans – A Member questioned whether the increase in the need for Education and Healthcare assessments in Doncaster was directly related to Covid.  It was confirmed that there was a direct correlation, and that the increase in Doncaster reflected an increase nationally. It was explained that as demand increased the authority increased resources funded by a temporary grant.  The grant then enabled the team to model the demand trajectory, and effectively remodel services, bringing Special Educational Needs and Disability Services closer to Early Help provision.

 

Post-16 Support – In response to a question, it was explained that in order to support those that start post-16 education (post-Covid) the authority had established groups to discuss the support needs of students with providers.

 

Returning to School Approaches – The Committee were advised of a number of approaches taken by schools to support children returning.  These included;

 

·       Holiday activities, which were accessible to all, that bridged the end of a term and beginning of another.

·       Work with schools and the Wellbeing and Curriculum group on a recovery curriculum model.

·       The virtual environment.

·       Regular communications with schools through the holidays to update risk assessments.

·       Successful Summer Staycations, particularly for those transitioning from year 6 to year 7.

·       Regular group meetings with Headteachers and multi-academy trusts.

·       Edulog system monitored to respond to queries from schools and parents.

 

Members were reminded of the relaxation of measures at schools and advised they were being considered on a school-by-school basis.

 

It was clarified that all schools took part in the school programme of summer sessions, with some providing supplementary sessions in partnership with voluntary partners.

 

Preparation for exams – It was advised there would be a move back to formal exams, and children would be prepared for this transition over a period of time. The Committee noted that pupils continued to be assessed by teachers during the lockdown period, with some schools undertaking internal assessments.

 

Members acknowledged the significantly reduced numbers of children excluded during Covid, and it was explained that those children remained on roll until allocated a school place.  Members were assured that no young person dropped off the radar, and that children missing in education figures were reviewed weekly by officers.

 

Volunteers in Libraries – With regards to the shortage of library volunteers, it was noted that there was a review of the provision looking at the valuable resource, how to elevate their presence and finally, to expand numbers.  There was a focus on looking at the delivery of service and encouraging engagement with volunteers.

 

Supporting existing and recruiting new volunteers – It was explained that to help encourage new and existing volunteers with concerns about Covid, assurances were given that all sites were now Covid secure. Engagement work with communities demonstrated this and the expectations of volunteers would follow and give them confidence, with Members supporting the process.

 

DONCASTER CARING

 

Care Assessments and Packages – In response to a question, the Committee acknowledged that the waiting times for people requiring care assessments had increased nationally and this was reflected in Doncaster.

 

The reasons for this in Doncaster were explained as;

 

·       Increased demand and backlog within the NHS.

·       Increased complexity of needs within communities, including self-neglect issues.

·       The pandemic lasted longer than first thought resulting in higher sickness levels.

·       Recruitment issues, resulting in increased agency usage (already challenging due to competitive markets).

·       Temporary impact of a new case management system in place that had experienced teething problems alongside difficulties in resolving issues (due to staff not physically working together).

 

Regarding waiting times for care assessments, it was explained that emergency cases were being prioritised but others were waiting too long.

 

Members were informed that redesign work was taking place around access to the provision, involving those with lived experience to help remove unnecessary barriers and receive help quicker.  It was advised that help may not always be provided by adult social care but through better connections with the voluntary sector.

 

Members noted that the Principle Social Worker was new in post to build a better pipeline and links with education, so that social work development was carried out in a more focussed way.

 

In reference to waiting times for people needing care packages, it was advised that wait times in Doncaster were not as long as in other areas. Members heard how there were cases where a care arrangement was agreed but the wait time for the package to begin was too long.  It was explained that in order to mitigate this, work was taking place with care providers and investment had been provided to relieve financial pressures. 

 

It was stressed whilst there were financial pressures on the authorities’ budget, people’s care continued to remain the focus and priority.

 

Reporting Data – A Member requested that the presentation of data within future reports be improved so that data relating to Doncaster was clearer. 

 

Service complaints and complements - In response to a question it was explained the number of complaints and length of time taken to resolve issues had improved.

 

Mosaic – Members were informed that overall the Mosaic system would improve efficiency and productivity for the service and the implementation of the system was going well.

 

Safeguarding Concerns/Healthy Living – It was advised that to help ensure a better and safer commissioning of independent residential provision, that safeguarding and operational commissioning came together under the same Head of Service to help develop and improve joined up working.

 

Occupational Therapists - A Member of the Committee highlighted that there may be a lack of Occupational Therapists to carry out assessments for housing adaptions.  Members were advised that there were cases where the wait for a Therapist was longer than the authority would like. It was noted that contributing factors included absences in the workforce and a lack of supply of occupational therapy.  It was recognised that there was a need for better partnership working with St Leger Homes Doncaster to help both organisations streamline systems and processes.

 

 

DONCASTER LIVING & WORKING

 

Manufacturing – A Member questioned whether the authority should work with the Chamber on a new manufacturing base model and the Committee were informed of engagement taking place with not only the Chamber but a range of partners such as the LEP, Sheffield City Region Combined Authority and Schools and Colleges. Members were reminded of the Council’s Inclusive Growth Strategy based around 6 drivers.  It was recognised that manufacturing was diversifying with emerging technologies. Members were reminded of the proposal for an innovation hub at the airport, which could be integral to a manufacturing base within the borough.

 

Green Bin Service – The Committee were reminded that green bin collection was not a statutory service but reassured that there was a plan to manage any further disruption to the green bin service. It was also explained that home and community composting would be linked to the Sustainability Strategy and that the authority aspired to champion good practice.  In regards to community composting, it was mentioned that where communities come forward with proposals, officers may assist with a composting scheme with involvement from the Environment Agency.

 

Street Scene catch up – It was noted there was a need to repurpose and refocus resources and provisions in order to catch up with weed-killing, flower bed maintenance and detritus clean up.  Members were told that working arrangements at depot level would be reconsidered due to the easing of restrictions, but also taking into account that the authority had a duty of care to staff. The Committee acknowledged and thanked the team for their commitment and hard work in maintaining service delivery during difficult circumstances.

 

Green Flag Status – It was acknowledged that the authority could be more ambitious with parks by aiming for more green flag parks, which would be demonstrative of the quality of the place. It was suggested that using the green flag criteria could help set a good standard across all green spaces, however this would need to be properly resourced.

 

Naturalisation Programme – It was stressed that the driver for the naturalisation programme was not financial but to ensure consistency with the carbon neutral target by 2040.  It was outlined that the key areas of learning from the programme was around communications particularly in relation to bio-diversity, engagement with communities and Ward Members.

 

RESOLVED that the Quarter 1 performance and financial information provided within the report be noted