Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Nora Ball, Margaret Iddon, Roy Lees and Shaun Smith.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No Members declared an interest in relation to matters under consideration.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on Monday, 16 July 2007 and the Special meeting of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday, 23 August 2007 (enclosed).

Agreed

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 16 July 2007 and the Special meeting of the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 23 August 2007 be confirmed as a correct record.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item(s) on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the Committee. Each member of the public will be asked one supplementary question within his or her allocated 3 minutes

No member of the public requested to speak at the meeting.

To consider the first quarter Business Plan Monitoring Statements for the services provided by the under mentioned Directorates, which fall within the responsibilities of this Panel:

• Leisure and Culture (enclosed)
• Development and Regeneration (enclosed)
• Streetscene, Neighbourhood and Environment (to follow)

In relation to the performance indicator for all services concerning the percentage of invoices paid within 30 days, the Panel at its last ordinary meeting requested the Director of Finance to be present at this meeting to answer member’s questions specifically on the process changes, and their effects on the system of the payment of invoices. 

The Panel received the first quarter Business Plan Monitoring Statements for the period 1 April 2007 to 30 June 2007 relating to the undermentioned Directorates whose service and function all fall within the remit and area of responsibility of the Panel.

?       Leisure and Culture

?         Development and Regeneration

?         Streetscene, Neighbourhoods and Environment

Further to Minute 07.ECS.11 the Director of Finance attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions specifically on the process changes and their effect on the system of payment of invoices.

Over the previous Monitoring Statements the Panel had noticed that the performance target for the processing of invoices within 30 working days for many Directorates had not been achieved and that immediate action was required to improve performance.

The Director of Finance informed the Panel of the process of the payment of invoices moving away from the previous paper system to a new e-enabling process.  There was now a change in emphasis in terms of financial control and it had taken time for key members of staff to become acquainted with the new system.  Staff were now trained up and there was a now a marked improvement in performance.

In relation to the Business Plan Monitoring Statement for Leisure and Culture, Members asked questions regarding the transfer of community centres into community management and that the Tatton Community Centre had now been transferred even though it had not met the scheduled date of 1 September 2007.  There would be other transfers taking place including Eaves Green and Gillibrand.

The Director of Development and Regeneration presented the Panel with her Business Plan for her Directorate.

The Director notified Members of the impact on her Directorate of the vacant posts and the progress on filling these posts.  Some of the vacancies had been filled and those posts currently being advertised, an encouraging response had been received.

The Director of Streetscene, Neighbourhoods and Environment circulated his Business Improvement Plan Monitoring Statements for his Directorate.

The Director highlighted the area of performance below target, indicating missed collections per 100,000, percentage racist and offensive graffiti removed within two working days, percentage of graffiti removed within 28 working days and sickness absence.  Action Plans had been compiled to address these issues.

Members noted that two working groups had been established to find improvements in customer satisfaction with kerbside recycling and cleanliness of the Borough.

Service Improvement Plans had been prepared, with the Working Groups required to report by 30 November with a thorough review of satisfaction and dissatisfaction issues with recommendations for improvements.

Some Members expressed concern at the emptying of some litter bins in the Borough as some had been found to be overflowing.  The mechanism for reporting the emptying of litter bins was not working satisfactorily and schedules had not been adhered to.  These concerns would be subject to the review of satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

RESOLVED – 1)  That the report be noted.

2)  That the Director of Finance submits a report later in the Municipal Year on the performance of the processing  ...  view the full decision text for item 21.

The Panel received the first quarter Business Plan Monitoring Statements for the period 1 April 2007 to 30 June 2007 relating to the undermentioned Directorates whose service and function all fall within the remit and area of responsibility of the Panel.

?       Leisure and Culture

?         Development and Regeneration

?         Streetscene, Neighbourhoods and Environment

Further to Minute 07.ECS.11 the Director of Finance attended the meeting to answer Members’ questions specifically on the process changes and their effect on the system of payment of invoices.

Over the previous Monitoring Statements the Panel had noticed that the performance target for the processing of invoices within 30 working days for many Directorates had not been achieved and that immediate action was required to improve performance.

The Director of Finance informed the Panel of the process of the payment of invoices moving away from the previous paper system to a new e-enabling process.  There was now a change in emphasis in terms of financial control and it had taken time for key members of staff to become acquainted with the new system.  Staff were now trained up and there was a now a marked improvement in performance.

In relation to the Business Plan Monitoring Statement for Leisure and Culture, Members asked questions regarding the transfer of community centres into community management and that the Tatton Community Centre had now been transferred even though it had not met the scheduled date of 1 September 2007.  There would be other transfers taking place including Eaves Green and Gillibrand.

The Director of Development and Regeneration presented the Panel with her Business Plan for her Directorate.

The Director notified Members of the impact on her Directorate of the vacant posts and the progress on filling these posts.  Some of the vacancies had been filled and those posts currently being advertised, an encouraging response had been received.

The Director of Streetscene, Neighbourhoods and Environment circulated his Business Improvement Plan Monitoring Statements for his Directorate.

The Director highlighted the area of performance below target, indicating missed collections per 100,000, percentage racist and offensive graffiti removed within two working days, percentage of graffiti removed within 28 working days and sickness absence.  Action Plans had been compiled to address these issues.

Members noted that two working groups had been established to find improvements in customer satisfaction with kerbside recycling and cleanliness of the Borough.

Service Improvement Plans had been prepared, with the Working Groups required to report by 30 November with a thorough review of satisfaction and dissatisfaction issues with recommendations for improvements.

Some Members expressed concern at the emptying of some litter bins in the Borough as some had been found to be overflowing.  The mechanism for reporting the emptying of litter bins was not working satisfactorily and schedules had not been adhered to.  These concerns would be subject to the review of satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

RESOLVED – 1)  That the report be noted.

2)  That the Director of Finance submits a report later in the Municipal Year on the performance of the processing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for the ensuing Municipal Year with items relating to this Panel is enclosed.

The Panel received the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2007/08 Municipal Year and in particular the items relating to the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Panel received the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2007/08 Municipal Year and in particular the items relating to the Environment and Community Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.