Issue - meetings

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 2009/10 (October-December) relating to the Environment, Culture and Communities Department.

Please bring the previously circulated Performance Monitoring Report to the meeting.  Copies are available on request and attached to this agenda if viewed online.

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 3rd quarter of 2009/10 ending 31 December 2009. The

presentation outlined the Department’s revenue and finances at January 2010.

Staffing issues, key highlights and the forward look were also included.

The Department had been working hard to identify additional economies in 2009/10 to balance the budget and offset pressures caused by the recession and severe weather events. It was predicted that the Environment, Culture and Communities Department would not exceed their budget for 2009/10.

The Panel noted that there was a £2,000 change in the Gross Revenue Budget. The Net Revenue Budget was £35,939,000 with major variances totalling £126,000 which included; a fee generated from film recording at the Look Out, reduced income from Easthampstead Park Conference Centre, in years savings from the Libraries Book Fund and a smaller than anticipated spend on Landfill Tax.

Capital Finance as at January 2010 was £11,863.10, with an anticipated spend of 64.03%. It was reported that London Road dualling was completed 6 weeks ahead of schedule and under budget by £160,000, contributing to an underspend of 2.55%. Capital schemes identified for carry forwards included:

• South Hill Park Grounds Restoration Project
• Three legged Cross Junction Improvement
• Help to Buy a Home Schemes
• Bracknell Leisure Centre Roundabout Capacity Improvements
• Disabled Facilities Grant
• Resurfacing Highway

The average vacancy factor for the Department was 10.60% which was lower than the previous levels for the same period and reflected stability in the Department. The number of Full Time Equivalent’s on sick leave was lower for the quarter than for the same period in 2008, reflecting active management of staff sickness. 

It was reported that ‘Sport, Leisure and Culture’ were sited most often in the Neighbourhood Consultation Survey 2009, as what residents liked best about living in the area. This was followed by ‘Access to Nature’ and ‘Parks and Countryside’.

The Director highlighted key areas in the Department’s forward look. It was noted that the Cultural Services Section were using an Improvement Toolkit which would be externally assessed to identify any improvements that could be made. An additional £200,000 had been allocated for highway repairs. Consultation of the Site Allocation Development Plan was underway. This was an important document that would define the shape of the borough for the next 10 years.

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

·         Issues investigated by Trading Standards included fake England football shirts.

·         The reduction in residents sending waste to landfill should be highlighted to encourage residents to continue reducing waste.

·         Registered Social Landlords were looking to provid rented accommodation at 80% of the open market rent to diversify tenure on new developments. This would allow tenants to access mortgages with more ease in the future and would not result in implications for the Council.

·         It was planned to allow BFC, My Choice card holders to pay council debt via the PayZone using  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54