Issue - meetings

To consider progress against key activities and performance data in the Council’s Corporate Plan for the period 1st July to 30th September 2014.

The Cabinet noted progress made against key activities and the performance data contained in the Corporate Plan for the period July to September 2014.

Consideration was given to a report by the Policy and Performance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding progress achieved against key activities in the Council’s Corporate Plan over the period 1st July to 30th September 2014.

In introducing the report, the Executive Leader acknowledged that the performance management framework would continue to evolve over time and that indicators might vary to reflect changes to corporate priorities and to achieve value for money objectives.  In terms of specific comments, the Cabinet noted that an updated customer engagement/services strategy would be submitted to a future meeting, that in view of the increase in staff sickness, managers would be further trained and supported to ensure consistent implementation of the sickness absence policy and that Officers were looking at ways under new and existing legislation to respond to fly tipping and litter nuisance.

Having carefully considered the comments of the Overview & Scrutiny Panels on the performance data relevant to the remits of the respective Panels and where necessary the response of the Executive Councillor to the points raised, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that progress made against key activities and the performance data contained in the Corporate Plan for the period July to September 2014 be noted.

To consider performance against the key activities identified in the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2014/15 for the period 1st July to 30th September 2014.

(Executive Councillor, D B Dew has been invited to attend for this discussion).

(Councillors J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader, and D Dew, Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing, were in attendance for the discussion on this item).

Consideration was given to a report by the Policy and Performance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on progress against the key actions and performance indicators contained in the Corporate Plan. The data covered the period 1st July to 30th September 2014 and included the position in the previous period for comparison.

The Executive Leader informed the Panel that the production of performance monitoring reports represented a significant step forward in the management of the Authority.  He then confirmed, in response to a question by a Councillor, J W Davies, that Luminus had not requested a further amount in addition to the loan that had already been agreed for development of a site in St. Ives.

Comment was made that there was a need to align more closely the reporting of performance with the remits of the Scrutiny Panels. In response to questions about roads associated with large strategic housing sites, it was confirmed that negotiation was taking place on new infrastructure in connection with potential development at Wyton and that conditions would be applied to the planning permission for proposed developments in St Neots that would limit development until improvements had been completed to the A428 and other roads.

Following questions about progress on the update to the Buildings at Risk Register and the processing of planning applications, the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing reminded Members that the Planning Section had been operating significantly below establishment for some time. He went on to assure them that both areas of activity would be ‘on-track’ by the end of the year. In addition to having a full complement of staff, other measures to improve the processing of planning applications included reviewing the Scheme of Delegation and the way it was interpreted. The Executive Councillor expected next year’s target for processing planning applications to correspond with national levels of performance.

With regard to the number of households living in temporary accommodation, Members were informed of a specific scheme to provide four additional dwellings intended for this type of tenure in Abbots Ripton Road, Huntingdon. More generally, analysis was being undertaken of demand and the location of temporary accommodation and, once this work had been completed, other schemes would come forward.

RESOLVED

  that progress made against the key actions and performance indicators in the Corporate Plan be noted.

To consider performance against the key activities identified in the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2014/15 for the period 1st July to 30th September 2014.

(Executive Councillors J D Ablewhite, B S Chapman, D B Dew, J A Gray, and T D Sanderson have been invited to attend for this discussion).

(Councillors J D Ablewhite, B S Chapman, D B Dew, J A Gray and T D Sanderson were in attendance for the discussion on this item).

The Panel considered a report by the Policy and Performance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), which contained an update on progress against the key activities identified in the Council’s Corporate Plan for the period 1st July to 30th September 2014. Following feedback from the first quarter a number of changes had been made to the format of the report and work was now being undertaken to identify a direction of travel in each performance area and to introduce a more rigorous internal quality assurance approach.

Having welcomed the progress that had been made in performance reporting, Members were informed that work was ongoing to define the ‘acceptable variance’ which meant key actions were identified as Amber.  Members then proceeded to review the actions within the strategic themes that had been allocated to the Economic Well-Being Panel.

With regard to the ‘Strong Local Economy’ theme, Members discussed the action to deliver a programme of themed business information events and the efforts which were being made to encourage local businesses to take part. They were informed that turnout had increased gradually over the course of the last three years and it was the view of the Executive Councillor that these events were well attended.  Consideration could be given to the subject matter and themes of these events further to promote attendance.

In terms of the action to commit to the Enterprise Zone skills strategy group, Members queried the expected output from this action. It was explained that work was ongoing to develop Enterprise Zone skills group activities and that early signs were encouraging. The development of a three year business plan for the skills hub would provide further detailed information.

 In general terms, comment was made as to the absence of any clear measurable targets within this theme that could be used to quantify progress. The Executive Councillor for Strategic Economic Development and Legal was asked to give further consideration to this in advance of the preparation of the report for the third quarter. The Executive Leader explained that success of the Local Enterprise Partnership would be measured through the uptake of business rates and income from these.

In response to a specific question regarding the information that was available for employers who were considering relocating to the Enterprise Zone, the Executive Councillor for Strategic Economic Development & Legal undertook to circulate to Panel Members a web link to this information.

Having noted that the number of vacancies within the Development Management Team had had a direct impact on its ability to provide fast track pre-application advice, Members were assured that progress would be made within the next quarter now that the vacancies had been filled.

In turning to the ‘Ensuring we are a Customer Focused and Service Led Council’ theme, Panel Members asked a number of questions regarding the key  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54

To consider performance against the key activities identified in the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2014/15 for the period 1st July to 30th September 2014.

(Executive Councillors J D Ablewhite, B S Chapman, D B Dew, J A Gray, R B Howe, T D Sanderson and D M Tysoe have been invited to attend for this discussion).

(Executive Councillors D B Dew and D M Tysoe attended the Panel meeting for discussion on this item.)

By way of a report by the Policy and Performance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was updated on progress achieved against key activities identified in the Council’s Corporate Plan over the period 1st July to 30th September 2014.

Proceeding to review the key actions under each strategic theme and in response to questions regarding the issue of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) and fly tipping, Councillor Tysoe reported that eight FPNs has been issued by the District Council in the year to date by a small team of two who also were required to respond to other issues. For comparison, Fenland District Council maintained a team of five Officers for the purpose who had issued 14 FPNs over the same period.  Councillor Tysoe confirmed that prosecutions for fly tipping had been undertaken and that he would advise Councillor Carter, after the meeting, should there be any cases currently under investigation.

In terms of litter around Tesco stores and fast food outlets (at Brampton Hut), Councillor Tysoe undertook to request the Head of Operations to pursue the issue with the organisations concerned.  Having been advised of the opportunity to establish litter control zones under the Environmental Protection Act to prevent this nuisance and whilst accepting that these zones might require enforcement, Councillor Tysoe undertook to follow up the suggestion with the Head of Operations.  It also was proposed that the Operations Division might engage local schools in litter prevention programmes.

Referring to diversionary activities for young people, the Managing Director accepted that the current measure was crude but that this was outweighed by the health benefit and diversionary activities provided to young people at minimal cost to the District Council.

In respect of partnership commitments, the Managing Director confirmed that an analysis of partnership arrangements was currently underway to establish those to whom further commitment would be made having regard to value for money and corporate priorities. 

Regarding arrangements for temporary accommodation and in response to concern that accommodation should be maintained as temporary, the Managing Director assured the Panel that use of short term accommodation and bed and breakfast was resisted with greater reliance placed on Registered Social Landlords to locate suitable properties for those occupying temporary accommodation to move into.  Whilst the Housing Team enjoyed a good working relationship with social landlords, the Managing Director acknowledged that turnaround times for lettings could be improved.

Councillor Dew confirmed that the District Council would seek, by design, to provide a mix of new properties to meet the needs of the elderly and disabled.  He added that, subject to consideration of amended plans, the proposed extra care scheme at Langley Court, St Ives was on target for opening in late 2016.

In terms of the low take up of the grant funded ‘Action on Energy’, Councillor Tysoe acknowledged that  strategic targeting using a variety of communication  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53