Issue - meetings

The Chief Executive presented the West Lindsey District Council Productivity Plan 2024 and explained the report was a new requirement for local government authorities from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLHUC) in exchange for financial support amounting to 4.7% of core spending. There was no template or formal criteria for the report, other than 35 questions as guidance and four themes relating to transformation, use of technology, plans to reduce wasteful spend and the barriers preventing progress. West Lindsey had produced answers in a narrative response to these in the report and referenced the Council’s policy documents such as the Corporate Strategy, Executive Business Plan, Medium-Term Financial Plan and Budget and Treasury Monitoring. Officers had identified several barriers to service delivery and productivity which included the Internal Drainage Board (IDB) and lack of multi-year financial settlements. In terms of use of technology and transformation, it was acknowledged that there had been a review of service areas and major IT systems had been implemented, an Enterprise Resource Platform (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management system (CRM).

Members were requested to approve the report to be submitted by the 19 July 2024 deadline to DLUHC for review in accordance with government guidance. The Chief Executive explained that there was a potential risk in a Best Value inspection to local authorities who did not comply with submitting a Productivity Plan by the deadline.

Members commended the concise and detailed report which demonstrated the capability of the Council and the Council’s current position.

The Chief Executive voiced his thanks to Ellen King for producing the comprehensive report.

Having been proposed, seconded and voted upon, it was

RESOLVED that

a)    the requirement of all Councils to submit a Productivity Plan to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) by 19 July 2024 be noted; and

b)    noting that the Productivity Plan had been produced in accordance with the guidance issued by the Department, the Productivity Plan included within the report be approved to be submitted to DLUHC for review.