Agenda item

Performance Monitoring Report

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.

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 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 their e+ card. This was being implemented to replace the swipe card provided by Bracknell Forest Homes which was previously used by tenants of temporary accommodation to pay council debt.

·         Although they did not win, the e+ Smartcard Team were pleased to be nominated for an award in the e-Government National Awards.

·         Section 106 funding used to part fund Whitegrove Library refurbishments had been allocated before new procedures were put in place to consult with Ward Members on the allocation of Section 106 monies.

·         The Car Park Management Contract evaluation to be reported to the Executive in March 2010 was a possible missed opportunity for Overview and Scrutiny to input on a decision before it was taken by the Executive. It was agreed that raising areas for scrutiny input needed to be identified at an earlier stage if possible.

·         The number of Lektrievers, which were large metal filing systems, was to be reduced in Time Square.

·         Details of the outcome of the investigations in to food poisoning cases linked to local takeaway premises was requested by Councillor Beadsley.

·         The Overview and Scrutiny Housing and Council Tax Benefit Working Group would have an opportunity to look at the work of the Benefits Customer Focus Group held on 26 November 2009 at their next meeting due to be held in April 2010.

·         The Department had received 40 Freedom of Information requests during the quarter which were processed by the relevant officers and could take up a large amount of resources to fulfil. It was requested that members be provided with further information regarding Freedom of Information requests made to the Council. It was suggested that this may be a matter for the Overview and Scrutiny Commission.

 

The Panel congratulated officers and the Director on their successful management of

the Department’s performance and budget in the third quarter, particularly for the extra work undertaken to provide services during the severe weather.

Supporting documents:

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk