Issue - meetings

Peter Stuart, Head of Corporate Resources introduced the report and highlighted that 79% of the indicators were green. He confirmed that the report had been considered by the Scrutiny Committee for Leader, Finance and Performance on 4 September 2019.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning commented that the indicator for the emission of greenhouse gasses from council buildings was a new indicator. He confirmed that the Council had been reducing its carbon footprint for a number of years through increasing thermal efficiency and replacing oil fired boilers.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Growth welcomed the report and queried whether the report had included a revised target for parking charges and whether the Parking Strategy Working Group should consider longer term targets for the use of mobiles to pay for parking.

Judy Holmes, the Assistant Chief Executive confirmed that the target figure had not yet been revised and payment by mobiles had been received better than anticipated. The Council would continue to monitor with a view to amending the target. She noted that the Parking Strategy Working Group would consider such matters of providing a range of payment options as part of the review of the Parking Strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Community welcomed the increase in the number of Wellbeing case interventions. He confirmed a back log of cases and that the team were getting up to date.

The Cabinet Member for Service Delivery and Environment confirmed his agreement of the new indicators covering sustainability. He highlighted the red indicator on the electric vehicle charging points and thanked officers on their work to rectify the charging points at Cyprus Road car park and to increase the number of charging points available across the District. He noted that the Council had exceeded the target for recycling and with the introduction of further recycling projects and the potential food waste recycling the rate should increase.

The Cabinet Member for Customer Service noted the Council Tax Support Scheme and highlighted the successful workshop held by the Revenues and Benefits Team. She confirmed that another workshop would be run next year. The Cabinet Member congratulated the officers who ran the workshop.

The Deputy Leader confirmed her attendance at the Scrutiny Committee meeting for Leader, Finance and Performance which considered the first presentation of the new format of the report and noted it was more informative. She highlighted the new indicator for micro business grants and confirmed that public awareness of these grants had increased. The Deputy Leader commented that nothing had happened at The Orchards Shopping Centre that was not expected.

The Leader took the Cabinet to recommendations which were agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED

Cabinet noted the Council’s performance and progress with flagship activities in the first quarter of the year.