Issue - meetings

The Head of Communication, Strategy and Policy submitted a report updating Members on performance monitoring for East Herts Council for 2015/16 as at March 2016/Quarter 4.  The Corporate Planning and Performance Manager advised this was the last report in the current format and all indicators would be monitored on a monthly basis going forward.

Members were advised that where a target had been exceeded or where there was a long term upward trend it might prove challenging to maintain this performance.  The Corporate Planning and Performance Manager stated that some issues were beyond the Council’s control such as the numbers using leisure facilities.

Members were referred to a number of other national trends and they were advised that they might need to be aware of a number of changes to performance indicators that were linked to those trends.

Councillor J Wyllie commented on whether a rethink was needed as regards the markets.  He referred to new initiatives that had been tried for Hertford market and whether these would work elsewhere in the District.  Members were advised that the regular markets were struggling, whereas the more specialist farmers markets were fairing rather better.

Councillor R Brunton was assured by the Scrutiny Officer that a report covering the penalties in the refuse contract would be submitted to Environment Scrutiny Committee and he could seek more detail from the Head of Service if required.  She undertook to get a reply from the Head of Service to a query from Councillor B Deering.

The Chief Executive confirmed to Councillor M Pope that the onset of larger fly tips was linked to changes when household waste recycling sites were open.  Members were advised that it was hard to influence the behaviour of the public regarding household waste.  The Scrutiny Officer commented that Environment Scrutiny would soon be receiving a report that covered fly tipping.

Councillor D Andrews commented that the containers on household waste sites were often full and the sites could not be open whilst the containers were emptied.  He emphasised that this was a particular problem at the smaller more constrained sites. 

Members received the report.

RESOLVED – that (A) the report be received; and

(B)   the Executive be advised that Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee has no comments to make in respect of the current explanation for long term trends detailed in paragraph 2.3 of the report submitted and the impact it is estimated to have on the final outturn for:

·               EHPI 153 – Number of applicants that presented to the council as homeless;

·               EHPI 3a – Usage: number of swims (under 16);

·               EHPI 3b – Usage: number of swims (16 – under 60 year olds);

·               EHPI 3c – Usage: number of swims (60 + years old);

·               EHPI 4a – Usage: Gym (16 – under 60 year olds).