Issue - meetings

Report of Strategic Director Environment and Community

Summary

To consider the findings of the Value for Money (VFM) Review report and the recommendations arising from the report

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)               To endorse the overall conclusion of the review that the service is low cost in terms of benchmark expenditure comparisons and is good quality in terms of overall positive levels of customer satisfaction.

(2)               To agree that improvements in value for money be sought and approve the following recommendations;

a.      Implement the Medium Term Financial Strategy savings proposals set out in paragraph 2.13, saving £73,194 per annum

b.      Secure a net saving of £60,000 per annum currently charged for the provision of specialist advice to the planning service by exploring options to achieve this, such as a reduction in the staff establishment, increasing fee income from planning advice and securing new clients to offset costs

c.      Create a bus station safety officer post to release a vehicle parks warden post to achieve a net income of £16,000 per annum

(3)               To note the recommendations of Scrutiny with regard to increases to car park charges and recommend the inclusion of an evening tariff to generate further income of £39,640 per annum in addition to the £480,289 already recommended.

(4)               To note the scrutiny process associated with the introduction of a pay and display parking scheme in Watts Way, Kidlington and the need for further negotiations with a view to implementing the scheme within 12 months if these are successful

(5)               To consider further the proposal to extend the landscape maintenance contract for a further three years to 2015 and secure potential savings  of £135,461 through negotiations with the contractor and an extended client base.

(6)               To continue the provision of a Shopmobility scheme in Bicester but in future seek to offset a proportion of its costs through service charges to tenants on completion of the town centre redevelopment

(7)               To explore the feasibility of charging residents for tree inspections to offset costs of arboricultural staff

Approved

The Strategic Director Environment and Community submitted a report to consider the findings of the Value for Money (VFM) Review of Urban and Rural Services report and the recommendations arising from the report.

Resolved

(1)               That the overall conclusion of the review that the service is low cost in terms of benchmark expenditure comparisons and is good quality in terms of overall positive levels of customer satisfaction be endorsed.

(2)               That it be agreed improvements in value for money be sought and approval given to:

a.      Implement the Medium Term Financial Strategy savings proposals, saving £73,194 per annum

b.      Secure a net saving of £60,000 per annum currently charged for the provision of specialist advice to the planning service by exploring options to achieve this, such as a reduction in the staff establishment, increasing fee income from planning advice and securing new clients to offset costs

c.      Create a Bus Station Safety Officer post to release a Vehicle Parks Warden post to achieve a net income of £16,000 per annum

(3)               That the recommendations of Scrutiny with regard to increases to car park charges be noted. That the recommendation of the inclusion of an evening tariff to generate further income of £39,640 per annum in addition to the £480,289 already recommended also be noted.

(4)               That the scrutiny process associated with the introduction of a pay and display parking scheme in Watts Way, Kidlington and the need for further negotiations with a view to implementing the scheme within 12 months if these are successful be noted.

(5)               That the proposal to extend the landscape maintenance contract for a further three years to 2015 and secure potential savings  of £135,461 through negotiations with the contractor and an extended client base be noted.

(6)               That the provision of a Shopmobility scheme in Bicester be continued and it be agreed in future seek to offset a proportion of its costs through service charges to tenants on completion of the town centre redevelopment

(7)               That the feasibility of charging residents for tree inspections to offset costs of arboricultural staff be explored.

Reasons

This review forms part of the Value for Money programme of reviews, which aims to cover all services within the council and improve the value of services offered to residents of Cherwell.

Options

The report contains options for achieving efficiency and value for money.