Resolved
(1) That the following achievements be noted:
Cherwell: A District of Opportunity
· 103 affordable homes have been delivered within the district at the end of Quarter three, exceeding the target of 100 homes and supporting opportunities for developing self builds.
· Strengthening the leisure and retail facilities in Banbury and Bicester, Bolton Road is making good progress, a meeting has been held with Aberdeen Properties, and possible design solutions have been taken forward to a meeting with a potential supermarket.
A Cleaner Greener Cherwell
· The Council has been involved in a successful county-wide partnership bid (led by the Health Service) that has secured funding to run the Warm Homes Healthy People scheme again this winter. Extensive promotion is planned.
· Eco Bicester houses are expected to for building to start in early 2013 following discharge of planning conditions and obligations. Building of houses has not started as yet.
A Safe, Healthy and Thriving District
· Oxfordshire County Council has a list of 78 families as part of the Thriving Families group to share with the attendees of the fortnightly Joint Agency and Tasking Coordination Group.
· 75% of grass pitches in South West Bicester Sports Village are constructed (drained and seeded) but work has now been suspended until ground conditions improve in the spring.
· Funding and planning approvals have been given for the new hospital on the existing site. Awaiting financial close and construction is due to start in early 2013.
· Support volunteering across the district – This is now reporting as Green, development through Voluntary Organisations Forum, plus reactive support on one to one basis has been delivered. Volunteering arrangements with Citizens Advice Bureau are now back on track and volunteers have been successfully placed with several organisations.
An Accessible Value for Money Council
· Secure savings of £800,000 to help meet medium term financial deficit has been achieved to date and savings built into the draft 2013/14 budget. (note: by the time of this meeting of the Executive, the budget will have been set).
· Improving our website and access has been furthered by the Webteam and the Customers Services team who meet monthly to review the ‘top tasks’ features on the homepage to ensure the high demand services are easily accessible online. A re-branding exercise is underway to have the same look and feel across all service pages providing a seamless view for the customer.
· The average speed to answer calls has improved to 1minute 9seconds from 1minute 27seconds, with a decrease of 20.8% calls being abandoned.
(2) That the following performance related matters be identified for review or consideration in future reports:
Cherwell: A District of Opportunity
· The Brighter Futures in Banbury programme is reporting Amber due to significant changes with the theme leads, this is a potential risk to the programme. Currently the programme is broadly on track with funding support given to the Banbury Street Pastors and also integration with the Thriving Families project supporting some of the most vulnerable families in Banbury.
A Cleaner Greener Cherwell
· The recycling rate is below the 2011/12 outturn due to a growth in landfill tonnage especially since street sweepings can no longer be composted. Landfill tonnage is up 1000 tonnes on last year, half of this is due to a change in policy from the Environment Agency. We continue to strive to increase the recycling rate within the district with a target of above 57% for 2013/2014.
A Safe Healthy and Thriving District
· The roll out of the “best bar none” scheme is reporting as Amber and has done for the last 3 performance reports. A steering group of members and lead assessors (had to be trained) have been identified. This was initially delayed due to assessors requiring training. A meeting held at South Northants Council has identified a local training course, all assessors will be trained during April 2013. Two day training course has been confirmed in Northampton. Partnership Inspector Storey is currently working on the delivery plan.
· Support the local NHS to retain and develop health services at the Horton General Hospital – This is reporting as Amber. The Community Partnership Network is in transition to examine a range of new roles regarding the health and social care sector reforms. In the meantime Oxford University Hospitals Trust is continuing to respond to a very challenging financial savings target which when coupled with technological improvements in clinical care and continuing national changes and directives to how services are to be delivered means that further service change at the Horton appears inevitable.
An Accessible Value for Money Council
· The number of complaints referred to the Ombudsman for Quarter 3 is 7, an increase of 4 from Quarter two. 6 of these complaints were within Planning and all related to the permission given for two garages. The remainder complaint was regarding business rates.
(3) That the progress on issues raised in the Quarter two report be noted.