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Meeting documents

Cabinet
Wednesday, 3rd November, 2004

Report to Executive

4-Monthly Performance Report

Date

October 2004
   

Reporting Area

Environment

Lead Director

Sarah Berry

SCOPE OF REPORTING AREA

Planning Services

Economic Development

Waste Services

Environmental & Consumer Services

Energy Conservation (PALS)

Main achievements

· Local Plan revised deposit response agreed by Full Council

· Business Case for On Line Planning project developed and agreed and system ordered

· National design award for Charlotte Street Car Park project

· Revised Delegation Scheme agreed (Planning)

· Landscape Estates application dealt with successfully by officers and Committee

· City Centre Mobile infrastructure approach agreed at Executive (September)

· Tourism Service contract finally agreed and signed off with Bath Tourism Plus

· Training Services - planned closure of IT Centre went ahead smoothly

· Kerbside recycling contract extended for 2 years with ECT Recycling (branded locally as Bath & North East Somerset Community Recycling).

· Successful in bid for £20K consultancy support from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) local authority support unit, waste implementation programme - this is primarily to assist with improving recycling performance at the Household Waste & Recycling Centres.

· Relocation of recycling operations from Temple Cloud to Keynsham depot completed by end August.

· Domestic battery recycling added to collection rounds from end of August

· Outreach Shopmobility service trail in Keynsham.

· Number of successful prosecution including:

- Craghoppers Ltd (Trades Description Act) re. false claim of "sunsafe" leisurewear.

- Scottish and Newcastle Brewers (Food Safety Act) re. food hygiene offences at Rat and Parrot Public House (£20,000 fine).

- Numerous illegal street traders (Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act)

· Under age alcohol sales initiative in pubs and clubs in partnership with police using funding from Home Office.

· Gull egg oiling programme.

· Food and Trading Standards secured renewal of ISO 9002 registration.

· Clean Food Awards - new initiative; completion of inspection and assessment process plus first award ceremony.

· Coped with huge surge in pest control (wasp nests) service requests.

· Consumer Direct launched (regional call centre partnership with other south west trading standards authorities).

Planned Actions not achieved

· Planning Code of Conduct for officers and Members not yet agreed by Council

· Rural Renaissance bid submission to South West Regional Development Agency Appraisal Team

· Formal sign off of Employment Development Team integration into Economic Development Service

· Zero waste strategy timetable for production of documentation has been revised

· Finalisation of ANPR (automatic number plate recognition system) agreement with police.

· Licensing Policy (on hold awaiting government regulation; draft now subject to public consultation).

· Completion of Air Quality Action Plan.

· The Environment Park project has been delayed for 6 months whilst a thorough review of options is undertaken, for Council decision in December/January.

Development Opportunities

· Trimbridge House reception service transferred to Customer Access Programme from 1 October.

· Rethink Rubbish Waste Awareness Campaign

· Refuse & Recycling Collection Methods study

· Progress made on alternative ways of dealing with Sustainability and role of ENVOLVE

· New inter service framework and co-ordination group in place to deal with City Centre issues and Bath Western Riverside

· Potential large sums of money available through Planning Delivery Grant in next 4 years dependent on performance and IT support system

· Establishment of long term framework in City Centre linking with Western Riverside project.

· New sub-regional partnership could provide direction and focus for sub-regional working (see Corporate Projects update below)

· Discussion with potential occupants of Riverside proceeding - could yield extensive long term benefits for Keynsham.

· Development of managed workspace in conjunction with private sector operators.

· Proposals for expenditure of Public Realm funds on litter bins, gum and graffiti drafted; tourism/population fluxes research plan drafted with EnCams.

· CCTV camera provision at Southgate and Green Park.

· "Freedom from Fear" initiative - partnership with Union of Shop, Distribution & Allied Workers.

· Home Office funding for extension of underage sales campaign.

· Gambling legislation transferring responsibilities from Magistrates to local authorities.

Potential threats

· Viability of Western Riverside and impact on Local Plan process and Strategy

· ODPM requirements for Action Plan to achieve Development Control targets. Inadequate corporate and political engagement with issues on performance raised by the Office of the Deputy Manager. Potential future threat of intervention if performance not improved

· Impact of major development projects on day to day Development Control work and Local Plan process

· The new `High Hedges' legislation and potential impact on current Council resources relating to trees and nuisance

· Bath Communities Partnership - resignation of board members

· City Centre masterplanning - resource demands and impact on Local Plan Strategy if not linked to establishment of viable masterplan for Western Riverside

· Recycling targets on amber

· Annual Increase in waste arisings forecast at 5% on current tonnage forecasts.

· LATS (Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme) permit allowances - draft allocations have now been published. The high proportion of trade waste the Council deals with has significant financial implications for Bath & North East Somerset under LATS.

· Landfill Directive & Hazardous Waste Regulations affecting how cathode ray tubes can be disposed of from the Household Waste Sites - current guidance and interpretation indicates action needed within one year. This may have significant financial and operational implications on the treatment of TVs, monitors and fluorescent tubes.

· One local composting facility will no longer be available to us for a temporary period of time. This will increase operational costs through increased haulage out of the district.

· Cross Bath water quality.

· Uniform 7 software - introduction and training may have temporary negative impact on service performance.

· Increased workloads re Licensing Act 2003.

· DEFRA re inspection of authorised processes and introduction of new Solvent Emissions Regulations.

Update on Corporate Projects

Sub-Regional Working -

· Regional spatial strategy - should aim for 4 unitary authority response on Executive Forward Plan for November followed by November 15th full Council.

· Need for sub-regional partnership officer support review becoming urgent.

· Sub-regional Partnership constitution to be agreed.

· Time for appropriate Executive Member briefing to be identified to help raise awareness, help develop Bath & North East Somerset' own agenda and to take steer on forthcoming issues.

2. Reporting on targets and commitments made in the Performance Plan

Summary of Performance

Performance Targets

Planning

ED

Waste

EN&CS

PALS

TOTAL

%

RED

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

AMBER

1

0

3

0

0

4

9

GREEN

14

9

14

4

2

43

91

NOT KNOWN

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TOTAL

15

9

17

4

2

47

100%

Ref No

Indicator

Best 25% of all English Councils

02/03

02/03 actual

03/04 actual

04/05 target

04/05 estimated outturn

Status

Comment
 

WASTE

              

82a

% of household waste recycled

10.09%

19.96%

21.08%

23%

21.2%

Amber

  

82b

% composted

3.73%

6.14%

8.43%

11.1%

11.2%

Green

  

82c

% used to recover heat, power and other energy

N/a

0%

0.11%

0.1%

0.1%

Green

  

82d

% landfilled

35.85%

73.90%

70.39%

65.8%

67.5%

Amber

  

84

Kg of household waste collected per head

449kg

500kg

485kg

485kg

520kg

Amber

  

86

Cost of waste collection per household

£25.66

£40.02

£43.34 (E)

£45

£45

Green

  

87

Cost of waste disposal per tonne

£29.61

£46.97

£51.51 (E)

£60.83

£60.83

Green

  

Local 1

Cleanliness standards of streets and public open spaces maintained by B&NES

N/a

71%

69%

72%

72%

Green

  

199a

% of land that is assessed as being clean

N/a

10%

29%

29%

28%

Green

Sum of 199 a and 199 b = compliant

199b

% of land that is assessed as having light litter

N/a

75%

44%

47%

51%

Green

  

199c

% of land that is assessed as having significant litter

N/a

10%

16%

16%

14%

Green

  

199d

% of land that is assessed as having heavy litter

N/a

5%

10%

8%

7%

Green

  

91

% served by a kerbside collection of recyclables or within 1 kilometre of a recycling centre

99%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Green

  

Local 86

Percentage of graffiti cleared from public buildings within 2 days of reporting

N/a

New

65%

80%

90%

Green

  

Local 87

Average time taken to remove fly-tips (days)

N/a

3.41

1.73

2

2

Green

  
 

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & TRADING STANDARDS

              

179

% of standard searches carried out in 10 working days

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Green

  

166a

Score against a checklist of enforcement best practice for environmental health

89.00%

89.00%

96.5%

90%

90%

Green

  

166b

Score against a checklist of enforcement best practice for trading standards

94.95%

89.00%

96.5%

90%

90%

Green

  

Local 6

% of environmental health, trading standards and licensing customers rating service as good, very good or excellent

N/a

92%

94%

92%

92%

Green

  
 

BUILDING REGULATIONS

              

Local 7

% of Building Regulations Applications appraised within 3 weeks

N/a

92%

89%

95%

95%

Green

  
 

LOCAL ECONOMY

              

Local 12

Long term unemployment as a percentage of total unemployment

N/a

8.0%

9.0%

9.0%

6 month average = 9.3

Aug = 8.8

Green

  

Local 13

Average level of unemployment in 4 key wards

N/a

408

390

420

6 month average = 359

Aug = 345

Green

  

Local 14

Numbers of existing businesses advised

N/a

380

403

420

420

193 to date

Green

  

Local 17

Average annual room occupancy in hotels and guest houses

N/a

63.5%

55%

58%

57%

Green

  

Local 18

Average length of stay in hotels and guest houses (nights)

N/a

2.0

1.7

1.7

1.9

Green

  

Local 19

Tourism web-site users ('000s)

N/a

272

355

400

400

Green

  

Local 20

Disadvantaged teenagers assisted/trained

N/a

84

89

90

90

Green

Targets to be reviewed following LSC contract negotiations

Local 21

Number of young people accessing work based learning through Modern Apprenticeship programme

N/a

56

80

90

90

Green

Targets to be reviewed following LSC contract negotiations
 

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

              

200b

If No, are there proposals to publish local plan within 3 years ?

N/a

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Green

  

106

% of new homes built on previously developed land

Depends on the number and type of applications received each year. On average we expect 55%

91.68%

77.61%

75% (E)

60%

65%

Green

Estimated on anticipated take up of brownfield sites

Local 56

Planning cost per application (£)

N/a

£638

£655 (E)

£683

£680

Green

  

109a

% of planning applications determined within Govt. targets

- % within 13 weeks - major developments

55.00%

33.30%

22%

40%

50%

Green

The estimated outturn is based on latest figures. However the estimate can change significantly due to the relatively small number of applications.

109b

- % within 8 weeks - minor developments

63.66%

57.40%

58%

60%

59%

Amber

Whilst we are currently below target it is anticipated that the Improvement Action Plan will assist in it being reached.

109c

- % within 8 weeks - other developments

80.51%

66.45%

70%

75%

75%

Green

  

204

(New)

% of appeals allowed against the authority's decision to refuse planning applications

N/a

N/a

30%

35%

25%

Green

  

205

(New)

Quality of service checklist

N/a

N/a

New

72%

83%

Green

  

Local 57

% of applications determined within 8 weeks

N/a

65%

67%

70%

71%

Green

  

Local 58

% of delegated applications determined within 8 weeks

The marginal reduction in performance is as a result of more complex applications being delegated to officers.

N/a

77%

75%

78%

80%

Green

  

Local 70

% applications of works to trees in conservation areas dealt with within 6 weeks

N/a

87%

90%

85%

87%

Green

  

Local 71

% of applications for works to trees and woodlands covered by Tree Preservation Orders dealt with within 8 weeks

N/a

88%

85%

85%

89%

Green

  

Local 72

% of approved applications subject to negotiations and added value

N/a

35%

37%

37%

38%

Green

  

C1

Maximising the use through the planning system of contribution to affordable housing from developers by adopting Supplementary Planning Guidance on affordable housing and by ensuring that it is a key feature within the Local Plan

N/a

N/a

N/a

Do It

Completed

Green

  

C4

Review domestic waste collection regimes, methodologies and frequencies

N/a

N/a

N/a

Do It

On target

Green

Draft report to be produced in October

C5

The establishment of new City Centre Governance arrangements to tackle cross-cutting issues such as:-

· Delivery regime for commercial vehicles

· Access & Traffic flows in and around the core city centre

· Prioritised options for enhancement to the city centre environment

· Feasibility plans and estimates for implementing the highest priority project

N/a

N/a

N/a

Do It

Achieved

Green

Governance arrangements established. Work on cross cutting issues commenced.

C7

Introduction of a scheme to empower nominated staff to impose fines on members of the public who drop litter in public places

N/a

N/a

N/a

Do It

On target

Green

Draft report currently with legal for comment

180a(i)

Energy consumption of Council properties - electricity

85%

69%

68%(E)

67%

100%

Green

Not a statutory requirement for 2003/04 - Best Estimate provided. Government has changed basis of measurement since 2003/04 targets were set. Achievement of a lower percentage is improvement.

180a(ii)

  

78%

89%

88%(E)

87%

96%

Green

See above

3. Equalities Targets

Service Area

% of staff from BME communities

% of staff considering themselves disabled

Comment
 

Actual

Target

Actual

Target

  

ECS

2.4%

2.4%

1.2%

1.2%

  

Planning

1.3%

3% by 2008

5.67%

Remain at above 5%

The limited turnover of staff impacts on the ability to achieve the corporate targets set regarding BME communities. The Service is working with Human Resources to examine the recruitment process to maximise the potential of reaching all communities.

Economic Development

6.5%

4%

0%

4%

  

Waste Services

0%

To achieve 1% by 2005

0%

To achieve 1% by 2005

The low level of turnover and number of staff within the team impacts on the ability to achieve the corporate targets set. The service is working with Human Resources to examine the recruitment process to maximise the potential of reaching all communities.