Decision Maker: Environment, Culture and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel
Decision status: For Determination
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
The Director of Environment, Culture and Communities gave a presentation in respect of departmental performance with reference to the Performance Monitoring Report (PMR) for the 2nd quarter of 2010/11. The presentation outlined the Department’s finances as at November 2010, highlighted major variances on revenue and identified capital schemes that would be carried forward. Staffing issues, key highlights and a forward look were also included.
The Panel noted that there was an increase in net revenue of £331,000 which was a result of the Department being given additional areas of responsibility. It was noted that there was a Capital Finance underspend of 1.6%.
Carry forwards identified in the Capital Programme included: the Housing Transfer Receipt, Cemetery and Crematorium Mercury Abatement, South Hill Park Grounds Restoration Project, Programme of Leisure Section 106 Schemes and Highway works.
The Panel was advised that the Department had an average vacancy factor of 8.73%. Overall, vacancies had increased by 5 in the quarter due to little recruitment as part of budget efficiencies in the previous quarter and the vacancy freeze currently in place for non front-line posts.
Key highlights for the Department included: continued work on changes from the new Government’s announcements, Bracknell Leisure Centre and Coral Reef achieved the Customer Service Excellence Award which had been held continuously since 1993, a Cryptosporidium incident at Coral Reef which had been successfully resolved with an independent inspection noting that the Centre was the best managed water facility they had visited to date, and the announcement of a new Waitrose foodstore in the Town Centre.
Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were noted:
Concern was expressed that Ward Members were not fully consulted on the allocation of Section 106 monies. It was agreed that the allocation of Section 106 monies would be sent to all Members for consultation when it was sent to the Parish and Town Council Liaison Group.
The Panel congratulated the Housing Team’s Officers on the Homelessness Service which had returned to in-house management from a contracted service resulting in a saving for the Department.
The Panel thanked the Director and Officers on their successful management of the Department’s performance and budget.
Publication date: 18/01/2011
Date of decision: 11/01/2011
Decided at meeting: 11/01/2011 - Environment, Culture and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel
Accompanying Documents: