Minutes:
The Board received a report of the
Chief Executive which detailed the first quarter performance management reports
on progress against service objectives/milestones and performance targets
affecting the services. In line with the revised Council’s Performance
Framework for 2012/13 (approved by Executive Board in 2012/13), the Board had
been provided with a thematic priority based report; which identified the key
issues arising in the following areas:
·
Economic
Regeneration (Development and Investment);
·
Environmental
(Open Spaces & Waste Management Services);
·
Highways,
Transportation and Logistics (Mersey Gateway/Core Strategy, Transport, Bridge
and Highway Maintenance, Highway Development, Flood Risk Management);
·
Physical
Environment (Statutory Plans and Housing Issues).
In receiving the first quarterly
monitoring reports, Councillor MacManus submitted the following questions and
the responses given are detailed:
1.
Item 1
page 27 - paragraph 2.1.2
Line
4 makes reference to many homes. “Consultation has
begun on a new Biomass plant which is capable of serving the whole of 3MG and
many homes and Civic Buildings in Halton”. Do we have an idea of how many and where they
are?
Response
45,000 homes in residential areas close to the 3MG site, Hale Bank and
West Bank could be served by the Biomass plant in addition to the requirements
at 3MG. The developers have had initial discussions with the Council in respect
of the Civic Quarter and a local housing association to ascertain the likely
demand. This will be examined further following the planning process.
2.
Item 2
page 30 - paragraph 3 Relating to the Council now being responsible for
processing and determining applications to carry out works to certain
watercourses - “There is a fixed
fee of £50 per application for consent of works”. Is the fixed fee determined by the
Environment Agency or can the Council increase it?
Response
The £50 fee is set under legislation following the introduction of the
Flood and Water Management Act 2010:
Land Drainage Act 1991 (c. 59) Control of flow of watercourses etc.
Prohibition on obstructions etc. in watercourses
23 (2) The
drainage board concerned may require the payment of an application fee by a
person who applies to them for their consent under this section; and the amount
of that fee shall be £50 or such other sum as may be specified by order made by
the Ministers.
3.
Item 3
page 33 - paragraph 3.1.3. What is the likelihood that we will not get the
grant funding towards
the Daresbury Enterprise Zone?
Response
The
Growing Places Fund has been secured in principal and the terms of the funding
are currently being negotiated. The Regional Growth Fund application has
been shortlisted and the outcome will be announced in October.
4.
Item 4
page 36 - DIS LI 01 What was the source of the 2012/13 target?
Response
All
targets are established on an annual basis taking account of prior and
anticipated levels of performance and market trends. The 2010/11 Actual
occupancy rate was 81% with new marketing initiates developed in the year
2011/12 to promote these units. In this
particular instance, the economic climate remains very challenging which
continues to have an effect upon performance. However, as these are ageing
buildings requiring repair and
investment, a paper is being prepared for submission to the Asset Management
Working group to review the strategy for these assets.
5.
Item 5
page 41 - 2nd to last paragraph. In relation to ‘poor contractor’
performance what monitoring arrangements are in place?
Response
The
monitoring of contractors performance is undertaken through monthly progress meetings,
regular site inspections and fortnightly programme meetings.
6.
Item 6
page 45 – PPT LI 06 What was the source of the 2012/13 targets?
Response
The
targets against these measures were determined taking account of latest
national average planning statistics available from the DCLG. Given existing
resources these targets should be considered as aspirational and this area of
the Council’s operations is currently the subject to review as part of the
Council’s on-going efficiency programme.
Typographical errors noted
7.
Page
42, PPT 09 refers to 2011/12 programme and March 2012. Are these meant to be
12/13 and March 2013?
8.
Response
Yes 2012/13 with a deadline of March 2013
9.
Page
44, PPT 01 has Feb 2012, is this meant to be 2013?
Response
Yes,
Feb 2013
Arising
from the discussion it was agreed that further information on the Biomass
scheme would be forwarded to Councillor Woolfall.
RESOLVED: That the
first quarter performance management reports be received.
Supporting documents: