Decision Maker: Environment, Culture and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel
Decision status: For Determination
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
The Panel considered the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Report (QSR) for the fourth quarter of 2011/12 (January to March) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities (ECC).
The Director of Environment, Culture and Communities gave a presentation in respect of the ECC Department’s QSR and Service Plan. The Director thanked Chief Officer of Housing, Simon Hendey, for attending his last ECC Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting as the Housing function now fell under the remit of the Adult Social Care and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Panel.
As at 31 March 2012, the revenue finance major variances under spend was £1,667,000. There had been major budget changes but no major effect on the funding available to spend as these were mainly technical adjustments. There had been major budget changes in relation to Waste PFI Accounting Entries, Highway Maintenance Capitalisation, IAS19 Person Accounting Entries, Recharges, Capital Charges, Street Cleaning, Bracknell Forest Homes and Additional Works, Highway Maintenance Pot Holes Grant, Supporting People Handyman Grant, and Housing Benefit Initial Claim.
Major variances in revenue had occurred in relation to cemetery and crematorium income, building control, concessionary fares, landscape services, waste management, housing benefit subsidy and administration, and departmental Human Resources. Considerably less funding was being spent on landfill and reserves would be carried forward where possible.
The current budget for 2012-13 was £51,076,000. There was not as much uptake of car park season tickets as companies were seeking alternatives. Current trends included additional income for Coral Reef and reduced income for Downshire Golf Complex. Golf courses nationally were suffering due to the particularly wet and windy weather. Section 106 funding was received intermittently from developments.
The Council’s Executive had agreed to fund £300,000 this financial year on low cost home ownership. Staff vacancies at the Council were fairly static and sickness rates were good at present. Around 30,000 people had turned out to see the Olympic Torch pass through Bracknell on Tuesday 10 July 2012 at approximately 5.30pm to 6pm. The Victorian Fayre due to be held at South Hill Park on Saturday 21 July had been cancelled due to the heavy levels of rainfall making the ground too wet.
Congratulations were given to everyone involved in the roll out of the brown bins in the borough. Machines had been ordered for pay and display car parking and it was expected that these would be installed in September or October 2012. The consultation regarding the Community Infrastructure Levy was being held for six weeks until the end of August 2012.
Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were made:
Publication date: 23/07/2012
Date of decision: 17/07/2012
Decided at meeting: 17/07/2012 - Environment, Culture and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel
Accompanying Documents: