Annual Performance Report 2026
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The Annual Performance Report for the 2026 Municipal Year is the Council’s primary public accountability document, presenting a comprehensive assessment of performance against the Corporate Plan priorities, key performance indicators, and financial targets for the year. Prepared by the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Janet Simmons, in collaboration with the Corporate Performance Team, the Report was presented to Cabinet in June 2026 and subsequently published on the Council website for public scrutiny.
The headline finding is strongly positive: 78% of monitored performance indicators met or exceeded their target for the year, and the Council delivered the year with a provisional General Fund revenue underspend of £142,000 — a variance of 0.59% against the approved budget. Resident satisfaction, measured through the Council’s annual survey, reached 74%, above the 72% target, with 82% of customer service contacts resolved at first point of contact.
In the area of housing, the Council exceeded its net additional homes target for the fourth consecutive year, with 387 homes completed against a target of 350. The affordable homes target was also exceeded, with 112 completions against a target of 105. The Council’s recycling rate reached 61.4% — the highest ever recorded and above the government’s national ambition — while household waste per capita fell to 463kg.
The Report is candid about areas of underperformance. The proportion of major planning applications determined within the statutory 13-week period fell to 54% against a 60% target, attributable to increased application complexity and officer vacancies. The proportion of adults receiving social care whose care plan was reviewed within the required timescale was 79%, below the 85% target. Improvement plans for both areas are set out in detail, including additional agency planning support and a revised care management process.
The Report also presents a detailed capital programme outturn, a service-level revenue variance analysis, and a forward-looking section on the Council’s priorities and financial position for 2026/27.The Annual Performance Report for the 2026 Municipal Year is the Council’s primary public accountability document, presenting a comprehensive assessment of performance against the Corporate Plan priorities, key performance indicators, and financial targets for the year. Prepared by the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Janet Simmons, in collaboration with the Corporate Performance Team, the Report was presented to Cabinet in June 2026 and subsequently published on the Council website for public scrutiny.
The headline finding is strongly positive: 78% of monitored performance indicators met or exceeded their target for the year, and the Council delivered the year with a provisional General Fund revenue underspend of £142,000 — a variance of 0.59% against the approved budget. Resident satisfaction, measured through the Council’s annual survey, reached 74%, above the 72% target, with 82% of customer service contacts resolved at first point of contact.
In the area of housing, the Council exceeded its net additional homes target for the fourth consecutive year, with 387 homes completed against a target of 350. The affordable homes target was also exceeded, with 112 completions against a target of 105. The Council’s recycling rate reached 61.4% — the highest ever recorded and above the government’s national ambition — while household waste per capita fell to 463kg.
The Report is candid about areas of underperformance. The proportion of major planning applications determined within the statutory 13-week period fell to 54% against a 60% target, attributable to increased application complexity and officer vacancies. The proportion of adults receiving social care whose care plan was reviewed within the required timescale was 79%, below the 85% target. Improvement plans for both areas are set out in detail, including additional agency planning support and a revised care management process.
The Report also presents a detailed capital programme outturn, a service-level revenue variance analysis, and a forward-looking section on the Council’s priorities and financial position for 2026/27.