Agenda item

The Integrated Performance Report 2017/18 – Quarter 1 is to be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Corporate Team Manager and the Head of Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Integrated Performance Report 2017/18 – Quarter 1 was presented to the Panel. In summarising the report, the Corporate Team Manager stated that this quarter one key action has been rated red and nine performance indicators are red.

In response to the question, how the Council can measure weeds, litter, detritus and graffiti, Members were informed that the Council’s Development Team carry out independent inspections against the set standards. Moving forward the Council is a member of the Association for Public Service Excellence, who offer benchmarking across all its Members. The Council are focusing on the areas of waste and street scene.

In regards to maintenance of land, the Panel was informed that the Council has a responsibility to maintain every piece of land it owns.

Following a question regarding recycling, Members were informed that there has been an issue with the recycling contractor and that the Council does not have confidence that the contractor has done everything they stated they would do. The Council has withheld payment from the contractor. There is currently an audit of the contractor and that all Councils involved are taking action.

A query was raised regarding One Leisure with Members asking how is income increasing when visitor numbers are falling. The question could not be answered at the meeting however the relevant Head of Service will be contacted for a reply.

In response to a question regarding Council policy on empty properties, the Panel was informed that the Council encourage home owners to make their empty properties available for occupation. In addition home owners have been discouraging people leaving their properties empty by cutting the months that the property is eligible for no Council Tax from six months to one.

The Panel was updated on Operations costs and the potential to save costs by reviewing how the service removes weeds. It was suggested that it would be more cost effective by spraying weed killer after the road sweeper has cleared the weeds instead of employing contractors to carry out the spraying.

Following concerns expressed regarding Disabled Facility Grants (DFG), Members were informed that DFGs are managed by the Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agency (CHIA) which is a shared service that carries out DFG work across Cambridgeshire. Due to the demand for DFGs, the amount of money that is required is going up. Demand is outstripping the funds budgeted however the Council are not withholding payment. Concern was expressed that it takes the CHIA 44.7 weeks to complete minor DFG work, however it was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Communities and Environment) would scrutinise this in greater detail.

In response to a question regarding the CCLA Property Fund, Members were informed that the reason the Council has invested in the property is the yield. It was noted that the Council has earned £172k from the fund whereas if the money had not been invested than the Council would have paid £27k.

Members had questioned why the Council had not achieved the target of delivering bins within 9 to 10 working days. In response, the Panel was informed that the Council had been prioritising the successful implementation of the waste round reconfiguration. Currently there are 1000 bins to be delivered and that there is an action plan in place in order to deliver those bins, however there is an option for the resident to collect the bin. The Head of Operations stated that the Council is not resourced to deliver 1000 bins in one to two working days.

A Member asked in response a question regarding the number of missed bin collections per week, the Panel was informed that there are regular missed bin collections, particularly in the rural round, however these currently equate to 0.08% of total bins. The Corporate Team have handled missed bin complaints and that most issues have been resolved.

Following a question regarding the £1m budgeted for the Transformation scheme, Members were informed that the budget is to update the IT systems which may or may not be needed.

In response to a query regarding the 3G Pitch at St Neots, the Panel was informed that as the lease has not be signed then the Council are not prepared to invest in the property. The Head of Resources will have more information on the situation at a future meeting.