Issue - meetings

The Committee gave consideration to the Progress and Delivery Quarter Two report for 2025/26, including the Performance Improvement Plan. The Senior Transformation and Performance Officer highlighted that 81% of all KPIs were exceeding target, 6% were within tolerance, and 17% were below target. This figure equated to six measures, five of which were covered by the Performance Improvement Plan. The Officer provided further context to those measures included in the plan, and summarised actions being taken to improve performance.

It was also explained that work was underway to review the Progress and Delivery measure sets for the 2026/27 performance framework. The recommendation was to align measures with the refreshed themes of the Corporate Plan and to transition from portfolio/service-based formats to strategic theme-based structures. The review would also consider introducing new indicators where gaps existed, and reassess targets for measures which consistently exceeded expectations. Those measures not directly aligned to the Corporate Plan themes were proposed to be used to monitor operational service delivery and would form a new operational report.

Members heard that as part of the review process, approval for the proposed approach would be sought from members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, with engagement from Group Leaders to ensure broader member involvement. Following the review, the proposed measures and targets would be presented to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee for approval in February 2026.

In response to a question regarding secondary sales at the Lea Fields Crematorium, it was explained these included memorial items such as plaques. The reason for the significant drop from previous years was not known, however Officers undertook to request that information from the team. It was also enquired as to why the number of services had reduced, and it was agreed for Officers to share benchmarking data with Members.

A Member of the Committee thanked Officers for the detail provided in the report, however questioned whether there was sufficient focus on improving outcomes, particularly for those areas which were include in the Performance Improvement Plan. He highlighted the connection between the two policy committees and enquired as to why there was no information provided as to what had been raised or noted when the report was presented to the Prosperous Communities Committee. He queried whether the Chairman of that committee could also be present at the meeting of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee in order to present the outcome of their debate, with the aim of having a consensus across the two committees as to whether sufficient work was being undertaken to improve those areas where it was required.

Members of the Committee agreed with the need for both policy committees to address those performance concerns, and for the policy committees to take responsibility for, and drive forward, continuous improvement. Officers highlighted the inclusion of the Performance Improvement Plan had been as a result of debate and recommendations from the policy committees in the past, and also reiterated the work in progress to review the Progress and Delivery measure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72

The Committee heard from the Senior Transformation and Performance Officer regarding the Progress and Delivery Quarter Two report for 2025/26, including the Performance Improvement Plan. It was highlighted that 81% of all KPIs were exceeding target, 6% were within tolerance, and 17% were below target. This figure equated to six measures, five of which were covered by the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP). The Officer provided further context to those measures included in the plan, and summarised actions being taken to improve performance.

It was noted that there were two new measures contained within the PIP, those being the number of services at Lea Fields Crematorium, and the average weekly number of Tuesday and Saturday market traders. It was explained that awareness campaigns were being rolled out for the crematorium, and in relation to the market traders, work was ongoing and a new Market Officer was now in post.

Members discussed in detail the ongoing concerns regarding the Gainsborough markets, noting the extent of the town centre improvements and questioning the plans for seeing real improvements to the markets. Examples were provided of other areas in the district which were offering successful markets, such as Welton, with concerns raised that the regeneration of the area could falter if efforts were not put in to consistently build footfall and encourage shoppers into the town centre. The markets were seen as having the potential to be a key draw to the town, and Members expressed disappointment that numbers appeared to be falling rather than building.

Officers highlighted that the period covered within the report had been somewhat challenging, with town centre closures in place for building works, as well as staff changes. The cinema had now opened, there were new market hoardings in place and there had been several successful events held, however these fell outside of the reporting period. Members were advised that in real-time data, numbers were increasing, and growth was being seen.

Members acknowledged the ongoing nature of concerns regarding the markets, reiterating the implementation of improvement plans which had brought incremental growth. It was also suggested that those incremental improvements may not appear as a success from one reporting period to the next, however if compared with data from two or three years ago, the offer within the Market Place in Gainsborough was considered drastically improved. The constant challenges of changed shopping habits, for example using supermarkets or online shopping, were highlighted, with Members in agreement that the town centre needed to be seen as an attraction in itself, in order to bring visitors in as well as local residents.

Further discussion highlighted the transport difficulties across the district and beyond, with Members suggesting the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire should be approached for improving the public transport offering into Gainsborough from surrounding areas. The success of previous focus on, for example, the antiques markets, was noted, with Members highlighting traders who had returned on that basis. The agreed aim from Members was for the markets to be an aspect  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30