The Policy and Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee met on 4 September 2025, to discuss the council's transformation strategy, corporate performance, procurement of interpretation services, financial performance, treasury management, and debt management. The committee noted the transformation strategy and the corporate performance report, approved the procurement of interpretation services, and reviewed the financial and debt management reports.

Here's a more detailed look at the key discussion points:

• Transformation Programme Strategy

  The committee received an interim update on the council's transformation strategy, which aims to create a coordinated approach to change, improve service delivery, and ensure financial sustainability. The strategy is driven by both external factors, such as local government reorganisation, and internal needs for organisational improvement. The strategy is currently in the 'initiation/discovery' phase and is expected to take eight weeks to complete strategic discovery.

  The strategy is centred around 10 core themes:

1.  Resident access and experience
2.  Enabling services efficiencies
3.  Strategic services
4.  Commissioning and third party spend
5.  Modernised and innovative service delivery
6.  Estates and asset management strategy
7.  Digital and data
8.  Commercialisation and inward investment
9.  Our people and culture
10. Zero based budgetting and VfM[^1]

The next full iteration of the strategy, including a financial baseline and business case aligned with the medium term financial strategy, will be presented to scrutiny in January 2026.

The committee agreed to add the Transformation Strategy to the Scrutiny's work programme.

[^1]: VfM stands for Value for Money.

• Southend-on-Sea Council Corporate Performance Report Quarter 1

  The committee reviewed the Corporate Performance Report for Quarter 1 of 2025/26, which covers key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned to the corporate priorities set out in the Corporate Plan 2024-2028. The report is structured around four priorities:

  • A city that is proud and prosperous
  • A city that is safe, clean and green
  • A city that is caring with a good quality of life for all
  • A city that is led by a transformative, responsive council

  Of the 31 key performance indicators, 19 are on target, 5 are progressing, 5 are failing to meet the target and 2 are annual, therefore without a RAG rating. Where indicators are not on track, explanation is given.

  Some of the key highlights from the report include:

  • The number of businesses supported through engagement with the Economic Inclusion Service is on target, with 538 businesses engaged in Q1.
  • The average processing time for Essential Living Fund applications is under target, with an average of 9.66 days.
  • The percentage of the council's spend with local businesses is above the quarterly target, with 8.04% of spend with local suppliers.
  • Total footfall for all identified council run cultural assets and Council owned/affiliated sports and leisure centres and events is above target, with 398,644 visitors in Q1.
  • The number of anti social behaviour incidents reported to the Community Safety Unit is below target, with 168 incidents reported in Q1.
  • The percentage of carriageway potholes repairs, that have been inspected and meet required investigatory levels, are repaired within 28 days is on target, with 100% of repairs completed within the required timescales.
  • The percentage of waste collections carried out on schedule is on target, with 99.91% of collections carried out on time.
  • The percentage of waste recycled is below target, with 34.40% of waste sent for reuse, recycling and composting.
  • Take up of the NHS Health Check programme is below target, with 864 checks completed in Q1.
  • MMR immunisation - one dose at 5 years old is below target, with 94.0% of children receiving the vaccine.
  • Proportion of older people (65 and over) who were still at home 91 days after discharge from hospital into reablement / rehabilitation services is below target, with 78.4% of older people still at home.
  • Proportion of adults with a learning disability in paid employment is on target, with 9.9% of adults with a learning disability in paid employment.
  • Proportion of concluded section 42 enquiries (safeguarding investigations) with a risk identified and a result of either Risk Reduced or Risk Removed is on target, with 95.0% of enquiries resulting in risk reduction or removal.
  • Rate of children in care per 10,000 population under 18 years old is above target, with 82.6 children in care per 10,000 population.
  • Percentage of repeat referrals for Children's Services within 12 months is on target, with 18.0% of children's services referrals being repeat referrals.
  • Percentage of all care experienced aged 17-21 who are in education, employment and training, of those that are in touch is on target, with 70.5% of care experienced aged 17-21 in education, employment and training.
  • Percentage of Council homes meeting the Decent Home Standards is on target, with 98.1% of Council homes meeting the Decent Home Standards.
  • Total number of households in temporary accommodation is above target, with 381 households in temporary accommodation.
  • Number of families with children in B&B for more than 6 weeks is on target, with 0 families with children in B&B for more than 6 weeks.
  • Rate of temporary accommodation, per 1,000 households is on target, with 4.82 households in temporary accommodation per 1,000 households.
  • Delivering the approved capital budget for 2024/25 is below target, with 9.08% of the approved capital budget delivered.
  • Percentage of Council Tax collected is below target, with 27.00% of Council Tax collected.
  • Percentage of Business Rates collected is on target, with 29.70% of Business Rates collected.
  • Percentage of complaints responded to in time is below target, with 82.63% of complaints responded to in time.
  • Percentage of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests responded to in time is on target, with 96.67% of FOI requests responded to in time.
  • Percentage of MySouthend cases progressed in the prescribed timescale is on target, with 96.8% of MySouthend cases progressed in the prescribed timescale.
  • Successful delivery of Transformation Programme initiatives is on target, with 75.00% of Transformation Programme initiatives successfully delivered.
  • Percentage of councillors attending/completing training is below target, with 12% of councillors attending/completing training.

  The Committee noted the Corporate Performance Report.

• Procurement of an Interpretation, Translation & Transcription Service

  The committee approved the commencement of a procurement process for a fully managed Interpretation, Translation & Transcription service for an initial 3-year period, from April 2026 with the option to extend the contract for a further period of up to 3 years. The service is essential for effective communication with residents for whom English is not a first language, and those with disabilities and sensory impairments. The contract value is estimated at £154,000 annually.

  The report noted that AI was considered as an option, but discounted because AI tools lack the nuanced understanding, emotional intelligence, and trust-building capacity essential for effective interpretation in social care settings where safeguarding, empathy, and human connection are critical to delivering safe and high-quality support.

• Financial Performance Report for July 2025 (Period 4)

  The committee reviewed the financial performance report for July 2025, which showed a forecast overspend of £6.442 million for 2025/26. The overspend is primarily driven by continuing pressures in Children's Services. The committee noted the proposals for reducing the forecast overspend and requested that the Chief Executive and Executive Director (Finance & Resources) explore all opportunities to improve the financial position by the year-end. The committee also approved budget transfers (virements) of £8,470,735.

• Treasury Management Report Quarter One 2025/26

  The committee approved the Treasury Management Report for Quarter One 2025/26, noting that treasury management activities were carried out in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management in the Public Sector. The loan and investment portfolios were actively managed to minimise cost and maximise interest earned, whilst maintaining a low level of risk. £1.114m of interest and income distributions for all investments were earned during this three-month period at an average rate of 3.89%. The level of borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) remained at £339.3m, and the level of financing for 'invest to save' schemes remained the same at £7.83m.

• Debt Management Position to 31st July 2025

  The committee noted the finalised outstanding debt position as of 31 July 2025, and approved the proposed write-off exceeding £25,000, relating to Hobbycraft Trading Limited entering into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

• Work Programme

  The committee reviewed its work programme for 2025/26, which includes upcoming discussions on the Transformation Programme and potential scrutiny reviews.