Issue - meetings

To consider a report from the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships proposing a new Council Plan.

Authorised the Head of People, Performance and Partnership, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy, to make any textual amendments to the revised Council Plan and to submit the document to Council for approval.

(Councillor J D Ablewhite and N J Guyatt, Chairman and member respectively of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) were in attendance and spoke on this item).

By way of a report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet was invited to consider the content of a revised Council Plan, which set out the Council’s vision and priorities for the 2011 to 2015 period. 

The Cabinet were reminded that the original Plan had been adopted by the Council in December 2006.  Executive Councillors were informed that the document had been revised in response to changes to the national performance framework for local authorities, the abolition of the Comprehensive Area Assessment and the challenges being faced as a result of the budgetary cuts.

In discussing the process undertaken to develop the Plan, the Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy explained that all Members had been invited to comment on the proposed priorities and targets in advance of the meeting and that they had been considered also by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels whose comments were relayed to the Cabinet.

In relation to the proposed Vision for the Council Plan, the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) were of the opinion that this should recognise the position of the Council in terms of the Localism Bill, as a competent authority” and refer to the importance of working in partnership.

Having considered the Panels’ views on the proposed targets, particularly those which had been set for waste collection, the Cabinet noted that the figures were floor targets, as opposed to aspirational targets which had been previously used and therefore indicated the minimum performance the Council would tolerate. It was reported that the waste per household collection figure represented a County target and had been negotiated with partners.

Having noted that it was anticipated that developer contributions would, in time, be managed under the new Community Infrastructure Levy, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the Head of People, Performance and Partnership be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy, to make any minor textual amendments to the Plan and submit the document to Council for approval.

To consider a report from the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships proposing a new Council Plan.

With the assistance of a report prepared by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel gave consideration to the content of a new Council Plan, which set out the Council’s vision and priorities for the 2011 to 2015 period. By way of background, the Policy and Strategic Services Manager reported that the current Plan was in its sixth year of operation and that changes announced by the Government to the national performance framework for local authorities and the abolition of the Comprehensive Area Assessment and the Audit Commission, together with new challenges faced by the Council had necessitated the development of a new Council Plan.

Having received details of the process undertaken to develop the Plan, the Panel were advised that all Members had been invited to comment on the proposed priorities and targets in advance of the meeting. The comments of the Social Well-Being and Environmental Well-Being Panels were also reported.

In examining the individual priorities within the Plan, Members commented on the proposed target for recycling which, at a figure of 50%, appeared to represent a reduction in performance compared with the current target. Members were of the opinion that the target should be more challenging. Whilst they recognised that recycling rates were declining, it was argued that if the Council was successful in encouraging residents to produce less waste, the amount of waste that was recycled as a proportion of the total waste produced would increase. Moreover, the introduction of glass recycling should have the effect of increasing recycling rates. A similar comment was made about the Plan’s target to encourage residents to create less waste. The proposed target of 550kgs represented a reduction in performance as the Council currently collected approximately 420kgs of waste on average from each household in the District. As a result and having noted that the targets had been developed in conjunction with Executive Councillors and Heads of Service, the Panel requested clarification of the rationale for the outcomes and targets and queried whether they were sufficiently robust.

Discussion then ensued on the target for street cleansing. Clarification was sought of the methodology which would be used to determine whether streets were at an acceptable level of cleanliness. Further information also was requested with regard to the current arrangements for street cleaning in towns and villages in the District.

In considering the proposed Vision for the Council Plan, Members were of the opinion that it should recognise the position of the Council, in terms of the Localism Bill, as a “competent authority”, that it should be forward looking and that it should reflect the Council’s current financial circumstances.

Having regard to the reservations they had expressed about the Plan, the Panel were of the opinion that further work needed to be carried out to demonstrate that the proposed outcomes and targets were sufficiently challenging and robust before they could endorse it. The new Plan should take into account current performance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91

To consider a report by the Head of People Performance and Partnership proposing a new Council Plan.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel gave consideration to the content of a new Council Plan, which set out the Council’s vision and priorities for the period from 2011 to 2015.  This would replace the current corporate plan “Growing Success” which had been first adopted in 2006.

Subsequent changes announced by the Government to the national performance framework for local authorities and the abolition of the Comprehensive Area Assessment and the Audit Commission, together with financial challenges faced by the Council had prompted the need for a revision of the existing document and its replacement with a more pragmatic plan with less aspirational targets.

Having considered details of the process undertaken to develop the proposed Plan, the Panel proceeded to review in detail each of the proposed priorities.  With regard to the objective of keeping the District clean, providing recycling services and collecting rubbish, Members  were informed that the targets were being revised having regard to present performance.  Concern also was expressed over the volume of litter that was deposited by the general public and it was suggested that there was a need for an emphasis on public education and communication in this respect to raise standards of behaviour on the part of those who discarded litter indiscriminately. 

With regard to the priority relating to support for strong communities, the Panel suggested that there should be greater clarification of the terminology used to describe the ‘less able’ in need of support in the District.

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be invited to consider the Panel’s comments as part of its deliberations on the report by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships.

To consider a report (TO FOLLOW) from the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships proposing a new Council Plan.

20 Minutes.

(At this point during the meeting (7.10pm) Councillor S Cawley took his seat at the meeting).

With the aid of a report prepared by the Head of People, Performance and Partnerships (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel gave consideration to the content of a new Council Plan, which set out the Council’s vision and priorities for the 2011 to 2015 period.

By way of background, the Policy and Strategic Services Manager reported that the current Plan was in its sixth year of operation and that changes announced by the Government to the national performance framework for local authorities and the abolition of the Comprehensive Area Assessment and the Audit Commission, together with new challenges faced by the Council had prompted the need for a new Council Plan.

Having noted details of the process through which the Plan had been developed, the Panel proceeded to review in detail each of the proposed priorities. Having regard to the outcomes proposed for the priority to “Keep the District clean, provide recycling services and collect rubbish”, the Panel was informed that the target of 45% for the recycling outcome would be revised in advance of the Plan’s submission to the Council as it was regarded as being too low. The Panel also discussed at length the proposed outcome for the generation of household waste. A Member expressed the view that the public might infer that the Council would measure the level of waste produced by each household. In response, the Policy and Strategic Services Manager informed the Panel that an attempt had been made to propose measures that were meaningful to local residents and that it was not intended to weigh individual households’ waste. Other matters raised during the Panel’s deliberations on this priority included the means of communicating waste and recycling messages to residents within the District, a suggestion that households might be rewarded for achieving recycling and waste targets and the different grades of plastic that the Council recycled.

Members commented on references to “providing advice”, “giving advice” and “supporting and encouraging community-led activity” under the activities sections for the priorities relating to “Prevent and deal with homelessness”, “Help vulnerable and disadvantaged people to live independently” and “Support strong communities”. It was felt that the recently approved Budget for 2011/12 and the Medium Term Plan might hinder the Council’s ability to undertake these activities.

In response to a question by a Member concerning the proposed measure for the priority to “Help vulnerable and disadvantaged people to live independently”, it was confirmed that the figure of 240 related to the number of individuals that would be assisted through the Disabled Facilities Grants scheme.

Having regard to the priority to “Encourage new jobs, homes and facilities to meet our needs”, comment was made by a Member on the need to ensure that new homes within the District were built to an acceptable standard. Members were however mindful that quality standards were taken into account as part of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101