Agenda item

To receive an oral update from the Portfolio Holders on developments within their Portfolio areas, including Performance Dashboards.

The Panel received updates from the portfolio holders on issues relating to their areas and on their performance dashboards.

Cllr E Heron

The Leader referred to the various pressures on the global economy, and stressed the importance of working with local and regional partners, the education sector and employers, collaborating to improve the prosperity of the New Forest area, and ultimately those who live and work in the area.    This could be achieved through skills, employment and economic opportunity. The importance of upskilling the local workforce was also emphasised, as well as making the Council an employer of choice.  

He also referred to an upcoming report to the Cabinet on support available to the public, and emphasised the importance of raising awareness of what was available.  

In answer to a question, the Leader was confident the Council was in a good position to deal with unexpected events, through the experience of covid and working in partnership with others.

He was pleased with the progress being made with ICT and the way it assisted various services.

He was in summary generally pleased with the overall performance in the dashboard, though it was acknowledged that some areas needed to be revisited in light of risks associated with rising inflation and the related impact on staff.

A question was asked concerning the effects of rising interest rates and any related risks having regard to property investment. In reply, it was explained there would be an impact, and the Council’s approach would continue to be cautious, whilst retaining a diverse portfolio.

Cllr J Heron

Reference was made to new external pressures following covid, including rapidly rising inflation and the global economy, all of which affected the Council’s finances and had not been foreseen at the time the budget was set. 

He paid tribute to the officers operating the Council Tax Collection, which were improving, and also their hard work on distributing grants and funding as mentioned earlier on the agenda, reiterating that NFDC was in the top quartile nationally for efficient delivery.      

Cllr Harris

Cllr Harris praised the work of the Youth Hub, a project for 16-24 year olds, run with other local authorities, and part funded by DWP. 

The Shop Doctor project had also been very successful. He also referred to an event on 6 July designed to help businesses on their journey to Net Zero environmental standards.   

A number of funding opportunities were available locally, eg grants or funding for businesses, which were being signposted by the Council in its newsletter, which ad a readership of 4000.

Some modelling was required for Business Improvement Districts to analyse business rates paid by companies and ascertain how the Council could help. 

In response to a question, it was explained that as this was a HCC function, opportunities to influence Broadband provision in the District were limited, but individual areas were slowly improving.  A national Government - subsidised scheme to provide fibre broadband would shortly be underway.  The New Forest was treated separately to Hampshire, given the local constraints.

A question was raised concerning the impact on car park use through car parking charges. In reply, it was felt there did not seem to be any significant drop - off in usage or effect on shopping, and noted that most other local authorities charged and there were good reasons for doing so including revenue for regeneration.