Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Fourth Floor, Easthampstead House, Bracknell
Contact: Emma Silverton 01344 352281
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Minutes and Matters Arising PDF 75 KB To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 5 October 2010. Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 5 October 2010 be approved as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.
There were no matters arising. |
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Declarations of Interest and Party Whip Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, including the existence and nature of the party whip, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting. Minutes: Councillor Mrs McCracken declared a personal interest as the spouse of the Executive Member for Leisure, Corporate Services and Public Protection.
Councillor Mrs Barnard declared a personal interest as the spouse of the Executive Member for Children & Young People.
There were no other declarations of interest made at the meeting nor indications that Members would be participating whilst under the party whip. |
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2011/12 Draft Budget Proposals PDF 18 KB To consider key themes and priorities for the Environment, Culture and Communities Department as outlined in the Council’s Draft Budget proposals for 2011/12. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Panel received extracts from the proposed 2011/12 General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme reports relating to Environment, Culture and Communities which were agreed for consultation by the Executive on 14 December 2010. The covering report advised that further savings of over £1m remained to be found in addition to those identified in the 2011/12 budget proposals subject to consultation, owing to the lateness, complexity and scale of grant reduction of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.
The Director of Environment, Culture and Communities introduced the budget proposals which included detailed information on budget pressures and savings, proposed fees and charges, the Capital Programme and proposed Capital Schemes. The Director drew the Panel’s attention to the proposed Commitment Budget for 2011/12 to 2014/15.
Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were noted:
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Performance Monitoring Report PDF 353 KB To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Performance Monitoring Report for the second quarter of 2010/11 (July to September) relating to the Environment, Culture and Communities Department. An overview of the third quarter will also be provided.
Please bring the previously circulated Performance Monitoring Report to the meeting. Copies are available on request and attached to this agenda if viewed online. Minutes: 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 ... view the full minutes text for item 87. |
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Door-Stepping Waste Survey To receive a presentation in respect of the results of the door-stepping waste survey recently undertaken. Minutes: The Panel received a presentation from the Head of Environmental Services and the Waste Collections Manager which detailed the results of the Bracknell Forest Waste Collection Doorstepping Project 2010.
2009/10 Waste Analysis indicated that Crown Wood and Great Hollands had higher landfill and lower recycling levels than other areas in the borough. The Doorstepping exercise was carried out in those areas to obtain clear understanding of the perceptions of residents in relation to what had led to the poor results, to increase participation in recycling and to ensure the best methods of communication about waste issues were used.
Doorstepping and road shows took place in August 2010 with questionnaires used as a basis for information gathering. 8,753 visits resulted in 2,518 residents spoken to which was 31.65% of the local population. Key results from the survey showed that 86.6% used the blue bins for dry recyclables, 83% recycled glass via local recycling sites, 2% thought all plastic could be recycled and 61% thought leaflets were the best form of communication.
Further work on waste recycling would include ‘Are you doing it right?’ leaflets, promotion of recycling through the new Waste Collection Contract August 2011, Waste Education through schools and Recycling Champions in different parts of the borough.
It was agreed that the full results report from the Doorstepping Survey and the questionnaire used to consult with residents would be circulated to Members of the Panel.
Arising from the subsequent discussion the following points were noted:
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Supporting People Service PDF 25 KB To consider the attached progress update report in respect of the Supporting People Service. Minutes: The Chief Officer: Housing presented the report which provided an update on progress made on the Supporting People Service since the Supporting People Working Group last met in June 2010.
Two main changes had occurred since the Working Group met; firstly the withdrawal of the administration grant which led to restructuring of the Supporting People Administration Service. The Service had been reduced from two posts to one. This meant less service user reviews would take place however significant efficiencies had been achieved to optimise the service being run. Service providers now entered data themselves reducing the administration pressure.
The cost of the Supporting People Services in 2011/12 was predicted to be £1.739 million which was a 14% reduction in the cost of services but not a 14% reduction in the service provided.
Secondly retendering of the Supporting People Services Contract had been completed. Due to the uncertainty of future funding contracts had been let on a one year basis with an option to extend for a further year.
It was noted that the homelessness floating support service tender had been evaluated and further efficiencies had been secured.
The Panel thanked the Chief Officer for his update and noted the content of the report. |
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Streetscene Supplementary Planning Document and Highways Guide for Development PDF 15 KB The outcome of the Working Group established by the Panel at its last meeting to respond to the consultation in respect of the above linked documents is attached. Additional documents: Minutes: The Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel noted the report which presented the outcome of the meeting of its Working Group to respond to the Streetscene Supplementary Planning Document and linked Highways Guide for Development consultation drafts. |
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Working Group Update Report PDF 19 KB An update report in respect of the Working Group of the Panel reviewing highway maintenance and of the Member Reference Group considering commercial sponsorship is attached. Minutes: The Panel noted a report providing an update on the Panel’s Working Groups. |
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Executive Forward Plan PDF 16 KB To consider forthcoming items on the Executive Forward Plan relating to environment, culture and communities. Additional documents: Minutes: The Panel noted the items on the Executive Forward Plan relating to Environment, Culture and Communities. |