Issue - meetings

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the fourth quarter of 2013/14 (January to March 2014) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities.  An overview of the first quarter of 2014/15 will also be provided.

Please bring the previously circulated Quarterly Service Report to the meeting.  The QSR is attached to this agenda if viewed online.

The Panel considered the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Report for the fourth quarter in 2013/14 (January to March 2014) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities (ECC).

It was noted that the budget position remained strong.  There were concerns with waste disposal as there was now an upward trend of landfill items being disposed of in the last two quarters.  The Council were looking at ways to reverse this trend.  Three public realm contracts had been awarded during the period, the Site Allocation Plan had been agreed, and improvement work was progressing well at the Twin Bridges roundabout where the completion of the works was expected in August 2014.  The redevelopment of the town centre continued.  SITA, the Council’s waste collection contractor, had won a Health and Safety award for no lost time incidents in 2013 as well as winning a top award in their company for the best Customer Survey results.  During the severe weather in January and February 2014 a range of mutual aid support had been provided to neighbouring Berkshire authorities. 

The Director of Environment, Culture and Communities reported that all his departmental staff had moved into their long term office locations in Time Square and all sections of the department were now on one site.

In response to Members’ questions, the following points were made:

·                     The use of Bracknell Town Library had dropped, due to reduced footfall in the town centre during the redevelopment works.  A new IT library management system for the libraries had been introduced.

·                     The Priestwood Community Centre was outside of the public realm contracts and was part of Corporate Services and concerns regarding the car park and grounds would be raised by Members with that department.

·                     With regard to complaints, comments and compliments, complaints and comments were regularly assessed and lessons learnt.  Compliments were not analysed at the moment although it was suggested that this should happen in future.

·                     Staff sickness numbers referred to full time equivalent posts and part time posts were not recorded separately.

·                     Extra funding of £200,000 had been secured for the repair of potholes.  Further funding would be sourced.  A plan would be prepared that would indicate the conditions of the roads in the Borough, risk assessment and how best to utilise the funding received.

·                     The Coral Reef expansion proposals would be prepared in the autumn 2014.

·                     The maintenance of footpaths was within the highway budget.

The Panel thanked the officers for the full report for Quarter 4 – January to March 2014.