Agenda item

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Performance Monitoring Report for the third quarter of 2008/09 relating to the Environment, Culture and Communities Department.

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 3^rd quarter of 2008/09.  The presentation outlined the Department’s finances as at January 2009, highlighted variances on revenue and identified capital projects that would be carried forward.  Staffing issues, key highlights and a forward look were also included.

The Panel noted that the six week Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) Planning Inquiry had placed significant demands on officer and financial resources.  It was confirmed that the Council would not be able to claim costs if the appeal was won.  The RAF Staff College Planning Inquiry had been much shorter and had not required the same level of legal expertise as the TRL inquiry and consequently had taken up fewer resources.  Other major revenue variances included concessionary fares and highways maintenance.  The latter was mainly due to increased and successful salting of the Borough’s roads during the spell of bad winter weather.

The Panel was advised that the Department’s staff turn over rate as at December 2008 was 21.72%.  This was considered to be higher than would normally be expected and the situation was being managed through the use of agency staff in key posts and active recruitment.  Sickness rates averaged two days per fulltime employee and were lower than the previous year.

Key highlights for the Department included: a reduction in the number of people housed in bed and breakfast accommodation, the implementation of two new home ownership schemes, the appointment of a new Chief Officer: Planning and Transport who would take up the post in May, the production of a draft Parks and Open Space Strategy, the introduction of mixed dry recycling in the blue bins.  The impact of current financial environment was starting to be felt particularly at Easthampstead Park Conference Centre, where bookings were down, and at Downshire Golf Course and work to manage the drop in income was taking place.  Looking forward, the Panel was advised that the Local Authority Carbon Management Plan would be launched on 31 March 2009.

Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were noted:

·         The new fast tracked planning appeals process meant that officers had only five or six months to prepare for a planning inquiry.  Under the previous system officers had eighteen months to prepare.

·         There had been a mixed response to the mixing of dry recyclable waste and the Department was working with contractors to identify those areas where recyclables were still being separated so that targeted advertising could occur.

·         The news that there had been a 15% increase in the number of new library members during the period April to December 2008 when compared to the same period in 2007 was encouraging

·         The principal reasons for the drop in the Council’s overall Comprehensive Performance Assessment rating from 4 to 3 stars was the introduction of a ‘harder test’ for corporate services inspections, failure to increase the culture rating and the use of a complicated formula to calculate the final overall score

·         The percentages of residents visiting libraries and museums related to residents using any libraries or museums and not just those in Bracknell Forest

·         Following an audit in February, Forestcare had received accreditation from the Telecare Services Association.

·         Clarification was sought over staffing levels by section as the information provided could be misconstrued.  It was requested that this information be made clearer in future PMRs.  The current number of vacant posts in the Housing Section was 10, of which two posts in the Benefits Section were deliberately held vacant to cover offsite processing work.  The vacancy rate in the Leisure and Culture Section was less than 10% and the 43 vacant posts were those where the work was typically low paid and subject to unsociable hours and recruitment had always been problematic although an increase in applications was now being experienced.

·         Test purchases of cigarettes, alcohol and knives with underage children where carried out with children whose appearance accurately reflected their age.  Although the sample had been small the results were considered to be typical.  Each case was judged on its merits with due regard to the nature of the offence and enforcement policy.  A range of actions were available including formal discussions with the retailer, warning letters, restorative justice and prosecution of the retailer and or the person who sold the items.

·         The 50 new members of the Leisure Saver Scheme were part of a continuing upward trend and not as a result of the economic climate.

·         The state of the outdoor sports pitches at Priory Fields was a continuing concern and a timetable for pitch improvements would be circulated to the Panel.

·         Input on the Green Spaces Strategy had been received from town and parish councils and relevant organisations including the Environment Agency.  The Strategy was not expected to go through a formal public consultation process.  A revised implementation date for the Strategy would be circulated to the Panel. 

·         There were currently only seven households accommodated in bed and breakfast accommodation.

·         Improvement work to the Railway Station forecourt would be carried out in a phased approach to enable the taxi rank to remain open for the duration of the work; consequently it would take longer than if the taxi rank had been closed.  Copies of the plans would be circulated to the Panel.

·         A member enquired as to whether information concerning the Harvest Ride Speed Management Scheme was being routinely provided to the local Parish Council.  Officers undertook to provide an answer.

The Panel requested that their thanks be passed to all staff who were involved in keeping the roads open and traffic moving during the inclement weather in February.