The Policy & Performance Improvement Committee (PPIC) convened to discuss a range of topics, including community safety, financial performance, housing compliance, and the council's digital strategy. The committee endorsed a new Digital Strategy for 2025-2028 and recommended its approval to the Cabinet, and also endorsed a recommendation to the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) for renewed focus on flood resilience.

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

• Digital Strategy 2025-2028: The committee reviewed and endorsed the Digital Strategy for 2025-2028, forwarding it to the Cabinet for approval. The strategy aims to create seamless, smart, and inclusive digital services for the community. It focuses on improving service delivery, leveraging data and technology, strengthening operations, preparing for local government reorganisation¹, and ensuring no customer is left behind. The strategy was informed by a working group and stakeholder surveys.

  The working group discussed areas that will influence the refresh of the digital strategy including the 'Digital Council,' particularly around cyber and IT strategy and digital training & champions.

  • Key Initiatives: The strategy includes initiatives to improve online platforms, ensure digital trust and security, prepare for collaboration with other local authorities, enable access to digital training, and leverage data-driven insights.
  • Digital Champions: The council plans to revitalise its Digital Champions initiative to enhance digital literacy and adoption of digital tools.
  • Digital Transformation Board: A Digital Transformation Board has been established to prioritise digital projects in alignment with the council's Community Plan objectives.
  • Strategic Alignment: The strategy aligns with the Community Plan, emphasising equity, fairness, and community engagement.
  • Gap Analysis: A gap analysis was conducted using frameworks and the Local Government Digitalisation Almanac to identify areas for improvement.
  • Survey Feedback: The strategy incorporates feedback from residents, tenants, elected members, and employees gathered through surveys.
  • Values: The strategy is underpinned by values such as being ambitious, forward-thinking, caring, compassionate, commercial, business-like, professional, trustworthy, welcoming, and responsive.

• Projected General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Revenue and Capital Outturn Report: The committee reviewed the projected financial outturn for 2025/26.

  • The General Fund is projected to have a favourable variance of £0.303m.
  • The Housing Revenue Account is projected to have an unfavourable variance of £0.409m to the Major Repairs Reserve.
  • The Capital Programme has a revised budget and financing of £55.240m.
  • An unfavourable variance of £0.395m is projected on service budgets, mainly due to recruitment issues.
  • Non-service expenditure is projected to have a favourable variance of £0.652m, primarily from council tax, business rates, and investment interest.
  • The HRA accounts show a projected unfavourable variance on the Net Cost of HRA Services against the revised budget of £0.355m and a reduced transfer to the Major Repairs Reserve of £0.409m.
  • The Capital Programme has been revised, with reprofiles and additions/reductions across various schemes.
  • The committee requested that Cabinet provide additional information around the variances within the capital programme.

• Bassetlaw and Newark & Sherwood Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Progress and Performance Update: The committee reviewed the performance of the Community Safety Partnership.

  • Newark & Sherwood experienced a 3.0% increase in All Crime compared to a 3.2% increase in the county.
  • Newark & Sherwood experienced a 16.1% reduction in ASB compared to an 20.6% reduction countywide.
  • The CSP strategy was approved at the March Cabinet meeting.
  • The CSP is responsible for determining whether a Domestic Homicide Review² (DHR) referred to it is accepted and meets the national requirements. The CSP currently has 6 active referrals, these are all at various stages.
  • A new fund was announced by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to improve crime and ASB in key hotspot locations, with £67,500 allocated for Newark & Sherwood.
  • The Safer Street Summer Initiative, running from 30 June to the end of September, aims to increase safety in town centres and high streets.
  • Funding for hotspot patrols has been continued, focusing on the Castle, Magnus, and Devon wards.
  • The team have been busy throughout the year with enforcement action across the district this includes the following enforcement activities on adults:
    • Community Protection Warnings 13
    • Community Protection Notices 3
  • There have been an additional 13 young people referred to the ASB Panel from 1 March – 31 July 2025
  • The cameras to be replaced this year are being worked through with our contractor and programmed in for the remainder of the year.
  • A further report was presented to Cabinet in February, which approved the continuation of the project to bring the monitoring of our public realm CCTV cameras in house. The procurement process for this project has now been completed and we are working towards the delivery of the project.
  • The team organised a number of diversionary activities and educational sessions funded through the OPCC Localities Funding and NSDC.

• Q1 2025-26- Housing Compliance Assurance Report: The committee reviewed the performance of housing compliance services.

  • Gas servicing is now 99.67% compliant.
  • Fire Safety Checks are rated RED due to revised programming for blocks and community centres.
  • Fire Door Inspections are rated RED, with a plan to deliver inspections and remedial works by mid-July.
  • Asbestos Domestic & Communal compliance is rated RED, with a full compliance review completed.
  • All communal spaces and community centres have valid Water Risk Assessments.
  • Stair Lifts are rated AMBER, and Hoists are rated RED due to tenants in hospital.
  • EICR certifications are rated AMBER, with 20 properties without a valid certificate.
  • Solid Fuel & Oil Servicing is rated RED, with retesting being arranged.

• Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) Annual Review: The committee was informed of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Review Letter.

  • The LGSCO received 16 complaints relating to services provided by the council and made decisions on 16 complaints.
  • One complaint was upheld regarding noise nuisance, resulting in a symbolic payment to remedy the injustice.
  • The LGSCO has published anonymised details of eight complaints relating to the council which it reviewed and closed after making initial enquiries.

• Simpler Recycling - Changes to National Recycling Policies: The committee was updated on the changes to national recycling policies.

  • The simpler recycling policy is being introduced in Nottinghamshire in phases over a period of two and a half years.
  • From April 2026, local authorities will be required to collect the core recyclable waste streams.
  • From October 2027, local authorities will be required to introduce a weekly food waste collection from all households and schools.
  • The council has engaged with businesses to make them aware of the changes in legislation and notified them of the requirements to make collection arrangements for food waste and recycling.
  • A Portfolio Holder report was approved in March 2025 for the increase in establishment by 1 driver to collect commercial food waste and the simpler recycling materials plus a new 11 tonne vehicle at a cost of £135,000 which was funded by the Capital reserve.

• Community Plan Performance for Quarter 1 2025/26: The committee reviewed the Community Plan Performance Report for Quarter 1 2025/26.

  • The report included updates on various initiatives, including the Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy, Ollerton Town Centre regeneration, and the Clipstone regeneration scheme.
  • The report also included updates on health improvement initiatives, such as cookery sessions, the Great Newark and Sherwood Cake Baking Challenge, and the launch of a new Food Hub in Southwell.
  • The report also included updates on the delivery of 3G sports pitches, the Sherwood Avenue park redevelopment, and the Green Flag Awards.
  • The report also included updates on the CCTV camera and lighting installation in St Mary's Gardens, the 'Keeping Town Centres Safe' Government campaign, and the Flood Partnership Meeting.
  • The report also included updates on the Newark Castle Gatehouse scheme, the Newark Cultural Heart events programme, and the refurbishment of 14 Market Place.
  • The report also included updates on the implementation of the new Housing Management System, the Social Housing Fund Wave 3, and the preparations for the inspection of housing services from the regulator of social housing.
  • The report also included updates on the Reward and Retention project, the Commercialisation Strategy, and the Corporate Peer Challenge action plan.

• Review of Heritage and Cultural Expenditure: The committee considered a Topic Request Form to review the provision of Estate Walkabouts within the district.

  • The committee agreed that a Review of Estate Walkabouts Working Group be established.
  • The committee also considered a Topic Request Form to review Heritage and Cultural expenditure.
  • The committee agreed to undertake a review of Heritage and Cultural expenditure.

• Cabinet Forward Plan: The committee noted the Cabinet Forward Plan for August to November 2025.

• Minutes from the Previous Cabinet Meeting: The committee reviewed the minutes from the previous Cabinet meeting held on 8 July 2025.

  • The Cabinet approved the overall General Fund, Capital & HRA Budget Strategy for 2026/27.
  • The Cabinet noted the final outturn of revenue and capital spending for 2024/25.
  • The Cabinet reviewed the Community Plan Performance Report for Quarter 4 2024/25.
  • The Cabinet noted the exceptions to performance of the housing service compliance functions.
  • The Cabinet approved the exclusive sale of the Hollies, Barnby Road, Newark, to Hope House School.
  • The Cabinet endorsed the recommendations of the Planning Policy Board regarding the management and maintenance of Public Open Space on new residential developments.

These were the key highlights from the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee meeting on September 1, 2025.