42 Performance and Risk Q2 (00:07:00) PDF 213 KB
To receive a report from the Head of Communities and Governance providing Members with an update on performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for 2015/16 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Head of Communities and Governance updating it on performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for 2015/16 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.
The Internal Audit Team Leader stated that figures had not been available at the time of the agenda despatch for the Managing the Environment Portfolio. Figures had now been received and an update was displayed via the whiteboard to Members of the Committee:
· The number of fixed penalty notices were discussed and the fact that this did not just relate to parking offences but also to such matters as litter offences. This was a difficult area to set a meaningful target for. The most meaningful measure might be to just state how many had been issued.
· Performance indicators would be reviewed as part of the work on the new Corporate Plan.
· It was expected that waste and recycling figures would improve as the new scheme settled down.
Discussion took place regarding the rest of the portfolio areas performance indicators:
· It was confirmed that the 14 affordable homes reported were the ones in St Andrews Street in Tiverton. 30 more Council properties were due to be built at Palmerston Park in Tiverton. A number of planning applications had been approved across the district for more affordable homes but these were still in the very early planning stages.
· Gas safety certificates had expired on 6 properties as at 30 September.
· A survey was conducted every quarter of all the business premises within the towns to ascertain the number of empty shops. It was reported that there was almost 100% occupancy of Council owned business premises.
· The Council was working closely with the Portas Team to improve footfall figures. The Portas Team were focussed on specific projects such as the ‘Coopera-tiv’ and the ‘Creativ’ hub which were in empty shops.
· It was noted that the number of major applications to be determined was below target as was listed building consent. The question was asked as to why this was, one of the reasons being that a number of Planning Officers had been on maternity leave at the same time. The Chairman stated that the lack of cover during this period was ‘disappointing’ and expressed concern regarding any financial penalty that the Council may incur as a result of not meeting national timescales. The Head of Finance stated that to have brought agency staff into the organisation to cover the maternity leave would have involved a significant cost detrimentally affecting the budget. Nevertheless the Chairman requested that the comments raised during the meeting be taken back to the Head of Planning and Regeneration.
· This Committee had approved the Risk and Opportunity Management Strategy that required any risks scoring a ‘5’ on potential impact, such as the risks associated with asbestos, be reported.
Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed Minutes.