Issue - meetings

Report of Head of Transformation

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to present the Council’s performance for the period 01 October 2014 – 31 December 2014 as measured through the Performance Management Framework.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To note the many achievements referred to in paragraph 3.1

1.2         To identify any performance related matters for review or consideration in future reports identified in paragraph 3.2

1.3         To consider any feedback from the February meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee during which it considered the quarter three performance report.

Resolved

(1)          That the following achievements be noted:

Cherwell: A District of Opportunity

·           Continue to support skills development, apprenticeships and job clubs/contribute to the creation and safeguarding of jobs measures are both reporting green.  346 jobs have been created/safeguarded this year to date (against target of 150), 135 of these in quarter 3. 

·           Develop the role of the Cherwell Investment Partnership (CHIP) is also reporting green with 20 formal business enquiries being answered and assistance given to many businesses seeking to move, expand of contract. The Banbury Town Team co-ordination project has contributed to a reduction of vacant shop units from 53 to 40 during quarter three. 

·           Good progress continues against “Develop a whole Council ‘Better Business’ approach to support new and existing businesses”.  All regulatory staff have been trained on the Regulator’s code and the Enforcement Policy consultation is complete.  In addition, £5000 funding was sought and agreed by the BIS Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) to improve regulatory support in a pilot in Banbury.

Safe, Green and Clean

·      Waste sent to Landfill figures have improved in quarter three, and it is anticipated that at year end we will be 250 tonnes down on last year’s residual waste to landfill.  An excellent result following a rise in landfill over the past two years. 

·      Number of All Domestic Burglary incidents reported is again reporting as Green* with 59 incidents being reported against 74 in same period last year, continuing the downward trend this year.

Thriving Communities

·      The total number of visits to the Council’s Leisure facilities (including District Leisure Centres, Woodgreen Leisure Centre, North Oxfordshire Academy and Cooper School Bicester) has significantly exceeded the year to date target 961,609 by 138,501 visits.  This is despite a fall in numbers of visits, year to date at Woodgreen

·      Processing of major applications within 13 weeks is again reporting as Green* at 89.29% (91.25% year to date). This figure represents sustained and significant progress, compared with historic performance.

·      Processing of minor applications within 8 weeks has improved from Amber in quarter two to green in quarter three – reporting right on target at 65%.

Sound Budgets and Customer Focussed Council

·      Increase our use of social media to communicate with residents and local businesses is again reporting as Green with Facebook likes now standing at 6363 and Twitter at 5042.  By using advertisements we have extended our reach into our non-follower audience which has proved successful.

·      Deliver a new approach to communications for the Bicester Master Plan is reporting as Green with a new sub-site being developed at www.all-about-bicester.co.uk which pulls all the information about Bicester together.

(2)          That the following performance related matters be identified for review or consideration in future reports:  

Cherwell: A District of Opportunity

·         Delivery in North West Bicester of the Eco Business Centre is again reporting Amber as a result of project delays due to external factors relating to the delivery of the local centre on phase 1.  The delay has not however had an impact on timescales or  ...  view the full decision text for item 126

The Head of Transformation submitted a report is to present the Council’s performance for the period 01 October 2014 – 31 December 2014 as measured through the Performance Management Framework.

Resolved

(1)          That the following achievements be noted:

Cherwell: A District of Opportunity

·           Continue to support skills development, apprenticeships and job clubs/contribute to the creation and safeguarding of jobs measures are both reporting green.  346 jobs have been created/safeguarded this year to date (against target of 150), 135 of these in quarter 3. 

·           Develop the role of the Cherwell Investment Partnership (CHIP) is also reporting green with 20 formal business enquiries being answered and assistance given to many businesses seeking to move, expand of contract. The Banbury Town Team co-ordination project has contributed to a reduction of vacant shop units from 53 to 40 during quarter three. 

·           Good progress continues against “Develop a whole Council ‘Better Business’ approach to support new and existing businesses”.  All regulatory staff have been trained on the Regulator’s code and the Enforcement Policy consultation is complete.  In addition, £5000 funding was sought and agreed by the BIS Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) to improve regulatory support in a pilot in Banbury.

Safe, Green and Clean

·      Waste sent to Landfill figures have improved in quarter three, and it is anticipated that at year end we will be 250 tonnes down on last year’s residual waste to landfill.  An excellent result following a rise in landfill over the past two years. 

·      Number of All Domestic Burglary incidents reported is again reporting as Green* with 59 incidents being reported against 74 in same period last year, continuing the downward trend this year.

Thriving Communities

·      The total number of visits to the Council’s Leisure facilities (including District Leisure Centres, Woodgreen Leisure Centre, North Oxfordshire Academy and Cooper School Bicester) has significantly exceeded the year to date target 961,609 by 138,501 visits.  This is despite a fall in numbers of visits, year to date at Woodgreen

·      Processing of major applications within 13 weeks is again reporting as Green* at 89.29% (91.25% year to date). This figure represents sustained and significant progress, compared with historic performance.

·      Processing of minor applications within 8 weeks has improved from Amber in quarter two to green in quarter three – reporting right on target at 65%.

Sound Budgets and Customer Focussed Council

·      Increase our use of social media to communicate with residents and local businesses is again reporting as Green with Facebook likes now standing at 6363 and Twitter at 5042.  By using advertisements we have extended our reach into our non-follower audience which has proved successful.

·      Deliver a new approach to communications for the Bicester Master Plan is reporting as Green with a new sub-site being developed at www.all-about-bicester.co.uk which pulls all the information about Bicester together.

(2)          That the following performance related matters be identified for review or consideration in future reports: 

Cherwell: A District of Opportunity

·         Delivery in North West Bicester of the Eco Business Centre is again reporting Amber as a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 126