Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council submitted an exception report on finance and key performance indicators relating to Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee up to January 2011.  The report contained a breakdown of information where remedial action was needed on salary, capital and revenue variances.

In response to a question, the Head of Community Services explained that figures for events at Hertford Theatre subsequent to the pantomime were now favourable.  The pantomime had not made as much money as expected because of delays with the building contract.

Officers undertook to give written answers on why contract staff were employed for environmental health inspections (to Councillor J Mayes) and which services had received twice as many complaints as in the previous quarter (to Councillors D Andrews and R N Copping).

Councillor J Mayes repeated her previous complaint about the disabled lift access to Wallfields building and was assured this was in hand.

In response to a question, the Programme Director said that toilets would be refurbished in phases after the C3W Programme had finished as part of normal annual maintenance.  Scuff marks to corridors would be addressed once the moves were completed.

Councillor J Mayes said she supported the establishment of a recycling reserve to offset future variations arising from the volatile commodities market.

Councillor J O Ranger commented on the difficulties of explaining the work of the Council to the public particularly with regard to Development Control.  He said more work was needed on this.

He also suggested that the Executive should be informed that the Corporate Business Scrutiny Committee would review the complaints about the Council as part of its future work programme.  The Committee agreed with this.

The Committee decide to make the comments now detailed to the Executive.

RESOLVED – that the Executive be informed that:

(A)      the variances and performance in the report now submitted be noted; and

(B)      the Committee will add a review of complaints about the Council to the Work Programme for 2011/12.