This is the performance update for quarter 4, 2024 to 2025.
Each of the reported actions that remains in progress at the reporting date has a green, amber or red status. Otherwise it is marked as completed.
The colours represent the progress made in relation to each action. Green indicates that progress is being made as per our planned schedule. The numbers represent how many actions have been allocated that status.
Status
Green
9
Amber
9
Red
2
Completed
19
Action details
Select an action to learn more about what we've been doing.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
Further improvements to reporting were made during quarter 2 to enhance the financial information and provide additional performance information on direction of travel for indicators. All changes for reporting in the current financial year have now been completed.
Directorate: Resources
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 70%
Status: Red
Comments:
The workforce retention and recruitment programme has successfully delivered both financial and non-financial savings, with a cost reduction on agency spend of approximately £2.8 million, which significantly exceeds the £1 million target.
The neighbourhood regeneration and assets programme and the digitalisation and efficiency programme have not delivered the full financial savings this year and as such the outstanding amount will be carried over to next year. However, positive non-financial benefits have been delivered across all programmes.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
New magazine designed and written in-house with shorter, more engaging copy and more photos and graphics. New name selected by the public (Your Bracknell Forest). New e-newsletter header designed in line with Your Bracknell Forest printed header - to be rolled out from April 2025. New local printer selected to reduce cost and also feed in to the local economy.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
Postal vote refresh activity is the last component part of the Elections Act to deliver which will continue into 2025 to 2026.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 30 September 2024
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
This review is complete and was implemented from 2 September 2024, slightly ahead of target.
The review resulted in a reorganisation of both teams which achieved a saving and provides extra resilience.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 December 2024
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The scheduled activities for 2024 to 2025 were completed including review of Contract Standing Orders, Council Budget Procedure Rules and Member Officer Protocol. This is an ongoing programme, the review will continue into 2025 to 2026.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 25%
Status: Amber
Comments:
Limited progress has been made during 2024 to 2025 around agreeing standard instruction forms with client departments. Work on web-based access to legal services to facilitate demand management will be undertaken 2025 to 2026.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The programme was delivered as scheduled for 2024 to 2025.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 90%
Status: Green
Comments:
The SEND Ofsted delayed the start of the social housing review but this is due to be started imminently. The Environment and Communities Panel was asked to carry out a 'one and done' review into the Public Protection Partnership, which took place on 26 March. This quarter also saw the first call-in of a Cabinet decision.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
All election activity concluded for 2024 to 2025 with no issues raised during that period.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 55%
Status: Amber
Comments:
The focus in this last quarter has been on updating material and providing further training for staff on the Freedom of Information (FOI) process and responses themselves. A minimal viable product specification has been developed and is now in the work programme, along with the development of agent technology to help staff and the public in finding existing information. Until this work is complete, the programme will be moved back to amber as the front-end changes are not yet visible, which is a key part of this programme.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The new complaints management system went live for statutory children's complaints, statutory adults' complaints and corporate complaints at the start of March 2025. The system handles complaints according to the relevant codes and supports a consistent approach to managing our complaints. It also provides more options for data analysis to support understanding and improvement.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 86%
Status: Amber
Comments:
Applications, services and contract details have been uploaded into the IT application asset management database and an analysis of potential rationalisation opportunities has been completed.
Two digitalisation improvement projects are on track and the cultural change workstream is progressing well, with a successful pilot of Copilot 365 showing positive results.
The target savings have not been delivered this year and have therefore been rolled over to next year, with the programme seeking other opportunities to meet the financial target.
Directorate: People
Stage: Completed
Due date: 30 September 2024
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
Comprehensive self-assessment for Adult Social Care produced and submitted as part of the Care Quality Commission assurance process (up to 31 December 2023) resulting in an overall outcome of 'good'.
Ongoing work is taking place with teams to make sure our self-assessment continues to reflect current practice and developments.
Directorate: People
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 85%
Status: Green
Comments:
Bridgewell build continues to be on track for completion and for people to move into the accommodation in June 2025.
Directorate: People
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 95%
Status: Green
Comments:
The Health and Care Plan 2025 to 2026 has been drafted and is being taken through governance procedures. Priorities delivered in 2024 to 2025 have been noted through quarterly reporting, and new and ongoing priorities for 2025 to 2026 have been drafted into the new plan.
Directorate: People
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
Version 2 of the All-Age Integrated Carers strategy has been published alongside a public action plan.
Following feedback from our health colleagues this now includes NHS Core 20+5 actions that our health colleagues will be delivering. There are 5 established workstreams that meet monthly to continue to drive the work forward. It is now business as usual.
Directorate: Place
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The feasibility study into operating a Lane Rental scheme (a scheme where all work promoters pay for occupying the busiest streets at the busiest times) is almost complete.
If approved the next stage is consultation, followed by an application to the Department for Transport (DfT) to run such a scheme.
New powers and increased statutory charges are due in the next 6 to 9 months which will encourage better working practices by utilities.
Directorate: Place
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 25%
Status: Red
Comments:
Due to delays within the procurement process it is not anticipated that the new system will be available for use before 1 December 2025. Therefore it has not been possible to implement or embed the new system within the 2024 to 2025 financial year.
This action will be carried over into the 2025 to 2026 Service Plan. Work is currently being undertaken across the council to facilitate the migration of data from the existing to the new system, however action in relation to implementing and embedding the new system is unlikely to be able to start before mid quarter 3.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 December 2024
Percentage complete: 50%
Status: Amber
Comments:
The AI Strategy was approved and published in this quarter as part of the overall strategy work for the service area. Other progress was delayed as stated in the last update, due to resource challenges. Further work in this area is now planned for quarter 1 2025 to 2026.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 60%
Status: Green
Comments:
Sensitivity labels continue to be rolled out to the organisation to improve document identification. Proposals for implementation of retention across One Drive are being taken through controls procedures, this will strengthen our compliance with UK GDPR. Data Security Posture Management for AI (DSPM) has been put in place for monitoring of data through AI tools.
Directorate: Place
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
Disposals completed and target for 2024 to 2025 has been met.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 40%
Status: Green
Comments:
Opportunity for automation is ongoing. In this quarter the information and communications technology team (ICT) have enabled a number of connections with systems to improve visibility of technical information to support critical ICT services. Workshops have been held with Microsoft to develop plans for further use of Copilot Agents to support staff and the public access information to improve productivity. This will be ongoing work across all areas.
Directorate: Place
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
A trial of real-time carriageway temperature sensors has been trialled during winter months, with a potential reduction in cost of gritting operations and benefits for road user risk. Data will now be analysed to assess effectiveness.
Wider technology opportunities are being explored for highway condition inspections combining digital images and AI.
Directorate: Place
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The capital planned highway work has been completed, both inlay and surface treatment programmes, with the aim of reducing pressure on reactive work by targeting those roads most likely to need reactive measures in the near future.
Directorate: Resources
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The provisional end of year position is an overall underspend of £0.742 million. This will increase the level of General Reserves at 1 April 2024 from £9.852 million to £10.594 million. This is a significant improvement on the third quarter position where the reported position was a £0.552 million underspend rising to a £0.584 million overspend once Emerging issues were included. All savings have been achieved or alternatives identified.
A reassessment of earmarked reserves at the end of the year included transfers into the Structural Changes (£0.500 million) and Future Funding (£1.050 million) reserves and the creation of a new Waste Disposal Procurement (£0.150 million) reserve and a new SEND Improvement (£0.350 million) reserve to provide additional funding to deliver the action plan in response to the recent inspection.
Directorate: Place
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The expansion of electric plant and equipment is continuing. Lower temperature carriageway resurfacing material is now standard due to its energy saving benefits and has been successfully used throughout the 2024 to 2025 highways work programme. GripFibre surface treatment has also been used as a method of prolonging carriageway lifespan and reducing whole-life carbon. De-illumination opportunities (sign, bollards and so on) are considered individually.
The exploration for the potential use of Recofoam is underway. This is a treated recycled material used in the construction and maintenance of road structures. This project remains at the feasibility stage whilst a trial site is identified.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 95%
Status: Green
Comments:
Carbon Literacy training has been delivered, and a subgroup has been passed through a 'train the trainer' process. The global climate change e-learning module is now live and local climate change e-learning module is under development. A provider has been selected for the electric vehicle sacrifice scheme and the scheme is on schedule to be launched in the new financial year.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 30 June 2024
Percentage complete: 85%
Status: Amber
Comments:
Work has been completed on year 1 priorities bar the new translation and interpretation contract. This one action remains outstanding due to ongoing staff vacancies and reduced capacity but also an agreed change in specification. Work has started on this but has not been completed. It will roll over to a year 2 priority.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 40%
Status: Amber
Comments:
Agreement secured to reduce contract down to 2 years due to technological advancements and unknown further advancements over the next couple of years. The specification is being re-drafted to align with this. Work on this project has moved slowly due to ongoing team vacancies and capacity issues.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 50%
Status: Green
Comments:
Work on developing the strategy was launched with a workshop with partners on 18 March to support the development of the engagement plan and a communities conference on 21 March 2025.
A delivery group is being established and engagement activity with partners and residents is planned for quarter 1. The strategy development and delivery will be a priority for 2025 to 2026.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
A methodology for calculating the council's scope 3 emissions has been formally agreed by the Cabinet Member during this quarter.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 40%
Status: Green
Comments:
Customer Services has been working with the Transport team to introduce a companion bus pass. This is an extension to a disabled person's bus pass, whereby if certain criteria are met, an extra person can travel with the pass-holder to assist them in their journey. The scheme was introduced on 26 March.
Customer Services is supporting the new complaints process by triaging complaints to make sure they reach the correct department for action. Through digital workflow, the complaint comes into a dashboard, already used by Customer Services for other work tasks.
Library Services has been trialling the loan of Thermal Imaging Cameras at Crowthorne Library. These cameras have proved extremely popular with customers and the initiative has received very positive feedback. The Library Service is now working with the Climate Change team to extend this loan scheme to other libraries.
Directorate: Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 45%
Status: Amber
Comments:
The first of the proof-of-concept projects (corporate complaints) has been deployed to the organisation and is in business as usual. This was fully developed under a co-design approach using an agile methodology. Learning from this initial product development has been taken back into the other proof of concept projects (Freedom of Information and the Look Out) with the second planned delivery starting in early April.
Progress has not been made in line within the original timeframe, hence an amber rating.
Directorate: Place
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 85%
Status: Amber
Comments:
The New Local Transport Plan was subject to consultation in quarter 3 and is due to be adopted in May. Preparation of this document lies with the Assistant Director: Highways and Transport.
The Town Centre Masterplan Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) and Housing SPD have both been adopted.
Work on the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) SPD is currently parked (ENV.2.02, parked at quarter 1) due to administrative delays at national level which prevent this scheme being brought forward in the immediate future.
Work on the Parking SPD is currently in progress.
The preparation of the BNG SPD and Parking SPD are both carried forward and included in the 2025 to 2026 Service Plan.
Directorate: Resources
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 80%
Status: Green
Comments:
The programme is on track to deliver approximately £2.8 million reduction in agency spend by the end of year 1. The managerial behaviour framework, appraisal process and wellbeing toolkit and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) toolkit are due to be launched imminently. Academy model champions have been identified and an introductory meeting to launch the role has taken place. Some service areas have now adopted academy model handbooks, with clear career progression routes outlined.
Directorate: Resources
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 50%
Status: Amber
Comments:
The year has shown a significant reduction in the number of agency staff from 96 at the start of the year to 65 as at the end of March 2025. This has resulted in a reduction on agency spend by the council projected to be around £2 million. This includes success in areas where traditionally there has been high agency dependence such as Occupational Therapy in Adults and Assessed Mental Practitioners, where recruitment strategies have proved successful.
The recruitment across some of the sectors continues to be a challenge and strategies to increase permanency are ongoing.
Directorate: Place
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2025
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The Prosperity Board has now been established and programme management is being lead by the project manager who is line managed by Wokingham Borough Council.
Directorate: Resources
Stage: Completed
Due date: 30 September 2024
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Green
Comments:
The Social Value policy is now fully adopted and in place.