Issue - meetings

Performance Monitoring Report

Meeting: 19/09/2017 - Environment, Culture and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Item 176)

176 Quarterly Service Report (QSR) pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To update the Panel in respect of the latest available departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the first quarter of 2017/18 (April to June 2017) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities.  An overview of the second quarter of 2017/18 will also be provided.

 

The Chairman has asked that any detailed or procedural questions arising from the QSR should be referred to the Director of Environment, Culture and Communities in advance.  Only issues of strategic importance or of wider implications need then be raised at the meeting.

Minutes:

The Panel considered the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the first quarter of 2017/18 (April to June 2017) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities.  The report highlighted exceptional performance, remedial action being taken against under performance, changes in risk, customer feedback, staff data and financial information.

 

The Director of Environment, Culture and Communities highlighted a number of items from the report and presented an overview of the first quarter performance.  He reported the major variances on the revenue budget so far, including reduced income of £175k at the Cemetery and Crematorium due to the delay in the construction works, contingency funding of £450k to be requested for the Coral Reef closure and £200k for reduced income from Surrey Heath for SANGS capacity at Shepherds Meadow.  However, there were offsetting variances amounting to a £90k projected increase in income from the catering function at The Lookout, £191k for a reduction in charges for the HWRC due to reduced tonnage arising from restriction of non-residents, and £100k for increased income due to changes in sales and marketing processes at Bracknell Leisure Centre.  Overall, the Department was within budget at this early stage of the year.

 

Capital budget spending was on track, subject to a carry forward of £2.74m for the Martins Heron roundabout.  The staffing position remained satisfactory with vacancies currently at a slightly high but manageable level and continuing low rates of sickness.

 

Among other highlights in the presentation, the Director commented particularly on the completion of the key improvements to the town centre transport network and public realm works in a timely manner.  The intensive recruitment programme for the refurbished Coral Reef had been very successful with all vacant posts filled.  The transformation reviews were proceeding satisfactorily, with the Leisure, Libraries and South Hill Park at the implementation phase and Parks and Countryside and Planning and Building Control at the analyse phase.

 

Arising from questions and discussion, the following points were made:

  • Following the town centre opening, street parking in a number of the surrounding uncontrolled parking areas was creating some problems.  It was noted that there was scope for reviewing and extending residents parking schemes but the view being taken was that the effect of the new town centre on parking patterns needed time to settle down before any decisions were taken.
  • Recruitment of volunteers at libraries had been very successful at some, but the response varied across the Borough.  The priority was to ensure that both volunteers and permanent library staff felt properly supported as the programme was rolled out.  It was suggested that more attention could be directed towards attracting students and young people to volunteering opportunities with the Council.
  • Good progress was reported in reducing the contamination of recycling bins.  Further improvements to the Council’s recycling schemes were proposed in the coming months.  Members expressed an interest in seeing the current ward by ward figures on recycling.

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk