Council plan overview report - Quarterly updates on key performance indicators

The result is measured against a target. 

It is usually related directly to a council service and an indicator of service effectiveness, efficiency or success.

The result is measured against a forecast. 

It is usually outcome focussed and often not fully in the council’s control. 

Contextual indicators are included as they may impact service delivery, demand and the achievement of wider council goals.

In line with the Department for Education's (DofE) formal reporting requirements, the data is gathered on a young person's birthday, therefore is not 'live'. The result of 53.8% Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) reported at quarter 1, reflects those who have had qualifying birthdays during the period - 14 care leavers, rather than the whole cohort.

At the end of quarter 1 there were a total of 72 former relevant or qualifying care leavers aged 19 to 21 years: 35 of these young people are recorded as NEET, 7 for reasons of pregnancy, parenting or illness. Therefore, the overall NEET data for this age group is 48.6% as opposed to 53.8%.

In relation to the whole care leaver cohort, including 18 year olds, 42% are NEET. This is an improving picture, reflective of work to improve outcomes and opportunities for those we work with. 

There has been a review of the definition of NEET or EET status in line with DofE guidance so they are reflected as the correct status. The Life Chances meeting is adapted to focus on EET data and establishing clear plans and themes around those who are NEET.

Work has also been completed with the Business Intelligence team to record EET status in a timely manner to monthly data reflects the current position.

Care Experienced Champions meetings have been set up and an initial meeting held.  

A further Council Insights Day is planned.  

The Leaving Care Team have met with the Open Learning Centre for an open day and a care leaver taster session is planned for September.

Education and Children’s Social Care colleagues held an education information day to share learning and offers, in order to expand knowledge for signposting and support.

Bracknell Forest Council’s non-care leaver NEET rate has improved from 3.6% in April to 3.3% in June, better than both the Southeast and national averages.

This indicator was added to provide insight into childhood obesity in lieu of service data while a full needs assessment into the whole system approach to healthy weight was being undertaken. 

This assessment will give us a broader view of physical activity and weight management across the borough to better understand local needs and provide recommendations to guide future initiatives and pilot programmes. 

The pilot programme in question was not extended beyond 2024 to 2025, and as a result, there is currently no data available to report for quarter 1. 

The decision to cease the project was made until this review is complete, to make sure we invest where need is greatest and evidence strongest. 

In the meantime, efforts are underway to identify and incorporate contextual data and insights to help highlight trends in children's weight in upcoming reporting periods.

This data is the latest available for quarter 4 2024 to 2025. Quarter 1 data for 2025 to 2026 is not available at the time of the report.

As reported under action COM.4.07, Bracknell Forest Council is commissioning a data system to track NHS Health Check activity, enabling reporting on key metrics, demographics, and referrals. 

It will also support claims and payments processing, with dashboards accessible to GP practices to enhance service delivery.

The council is also working with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Berkshire East colleagues to establish a governance framework for local NHS Health Check delivery. Local GP practices have been approached to recruit clinicians for this structure.

Service review meetings with Bracknell Forest GP practices have identified opportunities to improve uptake and standardise delivery, supported by the new data system and templates.

At the end of June our Child Protection Plan rate per 10,000 is 57.2. This is slightly lower than the previous reported result at quarter 4 2024 to 2025 of 59.

Bracknell Forest Council tends to be higher than statistical neighbours and national when compared across previous years.

While CPP rate has slightly decreased from last year, we believe the heightened scrutiny on thresholds at the front door has contributed to the increase compared to end 2024 (40.2). 

For all other years the CPP rate has been in the 50s and 60s and the current result is therefore consistent.

Despite the mostly consistent pattern, we continue to work to make sure our child protection thresholds are appropriate through various levels of scrutiny and oversight.

The number of completed Early Help Assessments that led to a 'step up' to Social Work rose to 10 in April, which is higher than average. 

All step-ups were reviewed and agreed in the weekly step up and step down meetings between Children’s Social Care and Early Help. 

A review of the 10 April cases will be conducted and reported in the next quarter to understand the reasons behind the increase and determine whether these cases resulted in statutory social care involvement or were stepped back down to Early Help.

There were 126 net completions during quarter 1. These comprised of 118 net completions on large sites and 8 net completions on a medium site.

Completions for this quarter were below the target that was set in the Bracknell Forest Local Plan Housing Trajectory. 

This is for a number of reasons including unforeseen complications with site preparation works, legal issues and developers taking longer to start developments than they had indicated. 

However, there were 1,242 dwellings under construction, 856 of those being on large sites. 

It is difficult to predict how many of those will be completed by 31 March 2026 due to a multitude of factors beyond the control of the council.

During the quarter, 27 new properties were banded for Council Tax in Bracknell Town Parish against a forecast of 39.

This indicator is a contextual indicator as the addition of dwellings in the town parish are outside of the council’s control.

The full year forecast for 2025 to 2026 is 157 and despite a slower than expected start to the year, it is expected that this will be reached.

The forecast for 2025 to 2026 is lower than last year (567) due to significantly fewer new properties expected to be banded in the year.

Properties currently being developed in the town parish are expected to be banded in 2026 to 2027 or later.

The Lexicon's data monitoring system is under review and at the time of the report, quarter 1 data was not available.

Within quarter 1, a total of 7 major applications were determined, of which 4 were approved. 

These 4 applications  (57%) were determined within the statutory time frame or with an agreed extension of time. 

While this figure falls below the target of 85%, it can be largely explained by the fact that the remaining 3 applications were all refused, a circumstance where it is harder to agree an extension of time with the applicant.

A new approach to dealing with planning applications is being adopted. 

This aims to make sure that time consuming discussions and negotiations are not undertaken in relation to applications which are fundamentally unacceptable and are therefore ultimately refused. 

This quarter's figures reflect a higher that usual percentage of applications being refused as part of the implementation of this process.

As reported under 4.1.01.PI, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) issued 3 final decisions following an investigation in this period, of which 2 were upheld. The council had upheld 1 of the complaints and had not upheld the other. The Ombudsman recommended further remedies in both cases and the council has learnt from the decisions and is implementing the recommended actions.

The LGSCO considered 5 further complaints this quarter but did not investigate. 3 complaints were outside the Ombudsman's jurisdiction, 1 complaint had not caused a significant injustice and 1 was not investigated because an investigation would not add anything to the council's response, suggesting a full response had already been provided by the council.

The LGSCO is selective in the complaints it investigates and has said it is less likely to carry out investigations on 'borderline' issues. 

This leads to a naturally high percentage of complaints being upheld and a focus on complaints where a further remedy is likely.

No savings have been delivered within the first quarter of the business change programme from the digitalisation and efficiency or neighbourhood regeneration and assets programme. 

Both programmes are being reviewed to identify alternative options for delivering savings.

It is too early in the financial year to be able to confirm projected agency spend. Therefore while the value delivered shows as £0 and the RAG status as red, it is anticipated that the programme will meet its target for this year, having significantly exceeded the year 1 target. 

The focus for year 2 of the programme is on long-term agency staff and maintaining the level of reduction in spend achieved in year 1.

At this stage in the financial year, it is difficult to accurately forecast full year costs, and therefore savings. 

The savings amount indicated relates directly to interventions identified within the Safety Valve programme. 

However, it is not anticipated that a balanced budget will be achieved during the lifetime of the programme due to rising costs related to both demand and unit cost.

At this stage in the financial year, it is difficult to accurately forecast full year costs, and therefore savings. 

The savings amount indicated relates directly to interventions identified within the Safety Valve programme. 

However, it is not anticipated that a balanced budget will be achieved during the lifetime of the programme due to rising costs related to both demand and unit cost.

There has been a drop in the number of apprentices compared to last quarter.   

There has been success recently with Public Health Apprentices who should start with us in the next quarter.

Only 2 appeal decisions were received in quarter 1, both of which were allowed. 

One related to a householder application recommended for approval by officers but refused by Members of the Planning Committee. 

The second related to the refusal of an application for the siting of a mobile hot food van which was determined under delegated powers.  

A review of the Inspectorate's decisions has been undertaken by officers to determine if there are any learning points that arise from these cases.

The council’s legal fees are charged to and paid by the developers for the drafting negotiation and completion of Section 106 (S106) agreements, and the legal fees are either paid on or before completion of the agreement.

During quarter 1, 6 S106 agreements were completed, resulting in an income from legal costs of £18,461 compared to a quarter 1 forecast of £29,375.

The number of S106 agreements to be negotiated, value and timing of legal fees are not within the council's control, however there is no reason to believe that the forecast annual income from S106 legal fees of £117,500 will not be achieved.

While the income from Section 106 legal costs is lower than forecast, the non-S106 income from legal costs, which includes highways agreements and property matters, has been almost £42,000 during the quarter.

The energy saved from modification to electrical assets was a priority in 2024 to 2025 and a saving of 182,579 KWh was achieved, exceeding the 2024 to 2025 target of 91,800 KWh by nearly 100%.

Due to the success of the savings in the first year, it is unlikely that significant future savings will be made from modification to electrical assets, although this will still be actioned where applicable.  

Efforts to meet the Council Plan aim of reducing our carbon footprint is being redirected to other activity and a suitable indicator to monitor progress and replace 4.3.4.CI will be confirmed reported later in the year.

Regular reminders for staff to record their disability have appeared over the last quarter. Numbers are improving but still work to do on this area.

Liaison with the Staff Disability and Neurodiversity group will happen over the next few months to find ways to encourage staff to declare.