Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council and the Director of Finance and Support Services submitted a report in respect of the Council’s achievements against its priorities for 2012/13, as well as details of the 20 service plan actions that were outstanding from 2011/12.

In response to a query from the Chairman regarding publicity for community grants, the Chief Executive and Director of Customer and Community Services advised that discussions had already taken place with the Communications team in respect of issuing a photo and press release for each community grant that was awarded by the Authority.

The Scrutiny Officer advised that a report in respect of all community grant applications and awards for the six months to the end of March 2013 would be submitted to the 25 June 2013 meeting of the Community Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor T Page commented that, based on his conversations, the RingGo system for topping up parking tickets was not sufficiently well advertised and more should be done to promote and explain the advantages of RingGo.  He stated that retailers should be encouraged to promote RingGo to customers who were worried about their parking ticket expiring whilst out shopping.

The Chief Executive and Director of Customer and Community Services stated that leaflets had already been distributed to retailers in Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford in respect of RingGo.  Councillor J Wing commented on whether a roadshow approach for advertising could be used to promote the benefits of RingGo.

In response to a query regarding air quality management, the Chief Executive and Director of Customer and Community Services undertook to send a copy of the Air Quality Management Acton Plan to Members.

The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED – that (A) the progress against the Council’s priorities and the status of the outstanding actions detailed against the 2011/12 and 2012/13 Service Plan actions be received; and

(B)   the Executive be advised that Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee considered that the car parking payment system ‘RingGo’ would probably benefit from an active marketing exercise as informal, local feedback appeared to indicate a low level of awareness of the scheme.