Agenda item

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the second quarter of 2013/14 (July to September) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities.  An overview of the third quarter of 2013/14 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 (QSR) for the second quarter of 2013/14 (July to September) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities (ECC).

Major variances in revenue had occurred in areas including The Look Out/Coral Reef Car Parking Income, Cemetery and Crematorium Income, Concessionary Fares, Planning Policy CIL, Landscape Services, Development Control Income, Planning Policy Strategic Planning, Departmental Running Expenses, Human Resources, and Waste Management.

Key highlights included:

• Restoration of the War Memorial;
• Site Allocation Local Plan (SALP);
• Twin Bridges;
• Residents Parking;
• Public Realm;
• Bracknell Town had won a gold award for the regional Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom awards for the best small City. The Landscape and Street Cleansing teams played a very significant role in this achievement;
• South Hill Park had been recognised as the best local authority park in the Regional Britain in Bloom competition;
• The main contractor for the South Hill Park restoration project had been recognised by the Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) in the category of restoration and regeneration;
• Green Flag Awards had again been received for Lily Hill Park, Popes Meadow and jointly with Sandhurst Town Council for Shepherds Meadow/Sandhurst Memorial Park, and for the first time South Hill Park;
• Recycling incentive scheme;
• Library Management System.

Forward look included:

• Progress on the town centre redevelopment;
• All SALP sites were at planning application or pre-application stage representing over 3,000 houses in the pipeline to be approved early this year;
• Work of the department to seek implementation of the Blue Mountain site for a new secondary school;
• Twin Bridges junction improvement: the next phase was underway and the department had been successful in receiving £1m for the next phase of works from the Department for Transport from the Local Pinch Point Programme;
• Sandhurst Library refurbishment;
• Coral Reef Roof;
• Public Realm;
• New ATP at Bracknell Leisure Centre;
• World War I Commemorations.

A significant underspend was anticipated from January and the department was aiming to spend approximately 80% of its capital budget allocation. There would be high electricity bills at Coral Reef until the combined heating and power units were replaced. Two war memorials had been restored. Work at the Twin Bridges junction had stopped over the Christmas period and then restarted. Bids had been received in relation to the Public Realm contracts; assessment of these was being undertaken and a meeting would be held with contractors. A decision would be made on this at the Executive in February.

There were long lead in times in relation to the design of the Coral Reef roof and closure was planned for October 2015 for possibly four months or longer. There would be a new roof with added features designed. South Hill Park had held a performance in relation to World War I commemorations, and poppies were being planted at various sites around the borough.

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

• The Public Realm Strategy with Bracknell Regeneration Partnership was approximately 95% complete; the last 5% was in relation to the lighting strategy. This was not preventing the Council from moving forward though and the document which had been agreed so far had been used for the past 18 months. Advice was being sought in relation to the lighting strategy and the target for completion was the end of February. Work had been undertaken with the Town Centre Manager regarding the durability of the materials to be used in the regeneration.
• There would be a co-ordinated management strategy regarding private and public space in the town centre.
• Multiple complaints were sometimes about the same complaint or issue.
• There was a ten minute grace period once a car was parked in a car park before a ticket had been bought, and it was felt that there should be a ten minute grace period after a car park ticket had expired before issuing a penalty.
• There had been a shortage of planning enforcement staff but now more staff had been employed in this area.
• If a meaningful response to a complex planning pre-application enquiry could not be given within the six week deadline for responding to queries, then more time may be requested to give a more comprehensive response.
• Corridors and roads in and out of the town centre were being improved in line with the regeneration.
• It was suggested that compliments received by the Council be recorded. It would be investigated as to whether a system could be set up for this purpose.