Date

07 August 2002

Executive Portfolio

ENVIRONMENTAL

Lead Director

Clive Thomas

Progress Made

Issue to be addressed

Who

Leadership

· Continued Joint Working with Private Sector through Open Planning Forum

· Joint working on Ten year Development Framework for Bath Spa University

· Exemplar Status achieved for `Car Clear' Partnership.

· LGA Waste Executive visit to Council as Waste Beacon.

· £1 million grant secured for bulky waste and recycling project, education and Council wide plastics recycling

· Environment Park Manager appointed 1/07/02

· Good Best Value Review rating for Waste Services

· Development of Vehicle Removal Services for £50 (collect and destroy)

· Fundamental review of Council's responsibilities under Avon Act and Corporate discharge of them

· Developing Contractual Agreements for Major Planning Applications

· Close working to explore options and solution to expansion plans - feed into Local Plan process

· Secure Staff resource

· Maintaining high national profile.

· 1 Year funding only. 2^nd year funding likely to require Council commitment to fund on an ongoing basis.

· Head of Waste Management and Zero Waste advertised Nationally

· Development of Business Plan to deliver Action Plan

· Co-ordination with other agencies

· Completed and redefined service transferred to single function in Building Control. Handover and budget transfers being effected.

· Potential charges being considered.

· David Davies

· Gary Collins

· Waste Ser Man

· Waste Ser Man

People Management

· Planning Service new Management Team in place and working well

· Dynamic change in Tourism delivery (arms length company) and secondment to NRR Ltd impacting on service delivery

· ECS Disability Awareness Training Completed

· Improved performance to be maintained and project control mechanisms be embedded in working practise and culture

· Explicit statement of consequences of 2 Year senior Staff secondment to be considered by Executive (i.e. deferment/cessation increased risk factors).

· David Davies

· Bill Cotton

Policy and Strategy

· Draft Economic Development Plan ready for Autumn consultation

· Review Change 21 Partnership

· Agreed protocol with Police on dealing with Travellers

· Arms length Tourism Company being established

· Good Progress made on World Heritage Site Management Plan

· Local Plan through First Deposit 4000 representations received

· Proposed change in Planning legislation

· Zero Waste Strategy being developed in partnership

· B&NES part of National Steering Group Developing Best Practise on Civic Amenity Sites

· Potential for Public Service Agreements to enhance Public Toilet Quality.

· Maintain momentum and level of interest and engagement

· Effectively link to Local strategic Partnership

· Implement as appropriate

· Careful management of process and involvement of and communication with staff

· Maintain Momentum

· Resource implication of dealing with extent of representations

· Very careful consideration as to effect on our developing new plan - ongoing discussions with GOSW

· Member consideration as part of overall Waste Strategy

· Integrate into reprovision proposals as part of Western Riverside

· Develop detailed proposals

· Bill Cotton

· Bill Cotton

· Environmental Protection Manager

· Bill Cotton

· David Davies

· David Davies

· Richard Robertson

· New Head of Waste Management and Zero Waste

Resources

· Short term disposal of fridges contracted, temporary planning secured for short term storage

· Rail Track Access Grant awarded

· Further £159K awarded to progress `Rethink' Rubbish waste awareness campaign from Landfill Tax credits

· Innovation of `Workload Fund' for Development Control crucial in achieving match of resource to Workload

· Projected under achievement of income in Tourism

· Training Services Learn Direct continues to be very succcessful.

· Joint Tender with Bristol for medium term may offer some savings

· Difficult negotiations with Shanks ongoing to obtain Council's equitable share. May need direct representations to Government to unlock

· Maintain success in securing future credits

· Develop further resource streams that allow response to workload

· Close scrutiny of cost base an recovery plan being prepared

· Opportunity to reinvest in technology to maintain market edge

· Waste Services Manager

· Waste Services Manager

· New HoS

· David Davies

· Bill Cotton

· Bill Cotton

Process

· RDA procedures, timescales and decisions are impacting on all projects with RDA involvement.

· Extent of delegation of Planning Decisions to officers requires review of existing scheme to achieve new BVPI target of 90%

· District Audit Strategy into Development Control Committees completed.

· Method Statements required for Waste Enforcement from Direct Services

· Discussions with Board Members to unlock specific issues and wider generic issues

· Report to Development Control Committee

· Report to be considered by Development Control with specific regard to extent of site visits and delegation

· Need to clarify processes and have transparent reporting arrangement.

· Strategic Director

· David Davies

· David Davies

· Matthew Smith

Performance Targets

No.

%

RED

5

10

AMBER

14

27

GREEN

27

53

NOT KNOWN

5

10

TOTAL

51

100

Scope of Reporting Area: Environmental & Consumer Services delivers a range of core unitary authority functions namely environmental health, trading standards, building control, licensing, land charges and systems management (including closed circuit television).

Scope of Reporting Area: Waste Services is part of the Transportation, Access and Waste Management Service area. Responsibilities are as follows: Responsible for policy and strategy relating to waste management throughout the district. Discharging legal responsibilities as both a Waste Collection and Waste Disposal Authority. Responsible for the operation of the Household Waste & Recycling Centres, Transfer Stations, Railhead and Recycling Schemes. Responsible for waste awareness campaigns and waste education in schools and the community. Responsible for the strategic management of the refuse collection and street cleansing contracts. Responsible for the policy and strategy relating to the provision of public conveniences.

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/01

Actual

2001/02 Estimate/Actual

2002/3 Target

Current

2002/03

Estimated Outturn

Status

Comment

156

Percentage of Authority's buildings open to the public in which all public areas are suitable for and accessible to disabled people

12.8%

12.8%

15%

12.8%

15%

Green

Local15

Percentage local unemployment below national unemployment

2.0%

2.1%

2.2%

2.0%

2%

Red

Local unemployment unlikely to reduce further as national figures reduces

Local16

Long term unemployment as a percentage of total unemployment

38%

37%

36%

24%

28%

Green

Local17

Reduction in unemployment in key wards in B&NES

4.1%

3.5%

4.1%

3.8%

Red

Local18

Numbers of existing businesses advised

320

320

350

68

350

Amber

126 advice sessions delivered to these 68 companies

Local19

Number of potential new businesses provided with training

215

140

160

33

160

Amber

Local20

Number of new business starts as a percentage of potential new business trained

45%

41%

45%

73%

45%

Green

Local21

Average annual room occupancy in hotels and guest houses

60%

63%

65%

63%

65%

Green

Local22

Avrage lenth of stay in hotels and gueasthouses [nights]

1.8

1.7

1.8

1.8

1.9

Green

Local23

Tourism web-site users [www.visitbath.co.uk] (000s)

166

250

72

288

Green

82a

Percentage of household waste recycled

14%

16%

18%

22%

19%

22%

Green

DEFRA funded projects will increase recycling rate - dealy in receiving funding.

82b

Percentage composted

4.2%

5%

6%

8%

5.0%

5%

Green

Organic waste collection trials will increase amount composted - but target may not be achieved due to late introduction of trials. Will have a clearer picture next quarter

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/01

Actual

2001/02 Estimate/Actual

2002/3 Target

Current

2002/03

Estimated Outturn

Status

Comment

82c

Percentage used to recover heat, power and other energy sources

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0

Green

82d

Percentage landfilled

79%

79%

77%

70%

76

Green

Relates to 82a and 82b above

84

Number of kilograms of household waste collected per head

466kg

486kg

486kg

486kg

492kg

492kg

Amber

85

Cost per square kilometre of keeping relevant land, for which the local authority is responsible, clear of litter and refuse

£36180

£102437

£102437

£102437

NK

Indicator now deleted as National Target

86

Cost of waste collection per household

£25.66

£24.06

£24.00

£23.50

£36.00

Green

Figure now includes cost of recycling collections

87

Cost of waste disposal per tonne for municipal waste

£27.17

£50.30

£47.00

£48.00

£49.00

Amber

Target needs to be revised. Landfill tax increase of £1 per tonne. Target was set before year end figure finalised. £50.95 realistic

88

Number of collections missed per 100,000 collections of household waste

28

172

116

120

146

Red

Official figures include missed recycling boxes for 2001/02. Indicator deleted in 2002/03 but will be retained by B&NES as a local indicator for missed refuse collection. Target 92 per 100,000

89

Percentage of people satisfied with cleanliness standards

71%

67%

Top 25%

68%

NK

DETR Satisfaction surveys carried out in 2001/02 only.

Local24

Street Cleanliness standards [Tidy Britain Group's CIMS index]

N/a

71%

81%

82%

82%

Green

Annual survey due in September

90a

Percentage expressing satisfaction with household refuse collection

90%

80%

Not measured

Top25%

NK

DETR Satisfaction surveys carried out in 2001/02 only.

90b

Percentage expressing satisfaction with recycling facilities

73%

77%

Not measured

Top25%

NK

DETR Satisfaction surveys carried out in 2001/02 only.

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/01

Actual

2001/02 Estimate/Actual

2002/3 Target

Current

2002/03

Estimated Outturn

Status

Comment

90c

Percentage expressing satisfaction with waste & recycling centres

77%

77%

Top25%

NK

DETR Satisfaction surveys carried out in 2001/02 only.

91

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

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Green

178

Percentage of the total length of footpaths and other rights of way that were easy to use by members of the public

93%

70%

73%

77%

Amber

Dependent on Survey to be delivered

106

Percentage of new homes built on previously developed land

84%

63%

74% (target in Performance Plan 44%)

55%

It is too early in the year to have any meaningful data

55%

Green

This is now a National PSA target - 60%. A recent detailed Urban Capacity Study indicates that up to 2011 the average is likely to be 55%. No more can be achieved as it is a finite resource. The figure for each year will vary according to what proposals come forward.

107

Planning cost per head of population

£7.46

£17.40

£17.14

£17.14

£17.23

Less thank £17.14 (based on 2001/2 estimate)

Green

108

Number of advertised departures from the statutory plan approved by the authority as a percentage of total permissions granted

0.07%

0.15%

< 0.102%

< 0.2%

N/A

0.102%

Green

It is too early in the year to have any meaningful data.

109

Percentage of applications determined within 8 weeks

71%

54%

65%

68%

70%

Green

The first quarter figure was 70% which is in excess of target

109a

Percentage within 13 weeks - major developments [10+ dwellings or larger than 1 hectare]

N/a

7%

27%

45%

30%

Red

The major applications category is a problem to attain due to local circumstances well above target in other categories

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/01

Actual

2001/02 Estimate/Actual

2002/3 Target

Current

2002/03

Estimated Outturn

Status

Comment

109b

Percentage within 8 weeks - minor developments [less than above]

49%

59%

55%

71%

60%

Green

109c

Percentage within 8 weeks - other [householders, change of use etc]

55%

67%

66%

71%

70%

Green

111

Percentage of applicants and those commenting on planning applications satisfied with the service received

84%

63%

No survey

+10%

No survey results currently available from applicants. Customer satisfaction high for Development Team and callers to reception

Green

Survey to be carried out later this year

112

Score against a checklist of planning best practice

70%

44%

80%

78%

80%

Green

Recent initiatives have raised the score significantly

Local31

Percentage of valid registrations registered within 3 working days

85%

100%

Est. 84%

Amber

Local32

Percentage of neighbours identified at registration notified within 2 days of registration

95%

100%

Est. 96%

Amber

Local33

Percentage of written enforcement complaints acknowledged within 5 working days

92%

100%

Est. 93%

Amber

Local34

Percentage of sites subject to enforcement inspection visited within 5 working days

98%

100%

Est. 98%

Amber

179

Percentage of standard searches carried out in 10 working days

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Green

166

Score against a checklist of enforcement best practice for environmental health/trading standards

8

8

7

7

Amber

Local37

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

91%

95%

92%

90%

92%

Green

Local38

Percentage of Building Regulations Applications appraised within 3 weeks

94%

93%

93%

91%

93%

Green

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/01

Actual

2001/02 Estimate/Actual

2002/3 Target

Current

2002/03

Estimated Outturn

Status

Comment

p17

Adopt a waste strategy with stringent recycling targets in order to aspire to our long-term vision

Do It

Amber

p17

Trial kerbside collections of organic waste (food waste, garden waste and cardboard) for composting

Do It

Green

p17

Implement a comprehensive Waste Awareness Campaign in partnership with Avon Friends of the Earth, using external funding allocated by waste management companies

Do It

Green

p22

Extend the Shopmobility service to other towns outside Bath

Do It

Red

Dependant on sponsorship funding - not now available until 2003/4

p22

Develop a strategic plan under the Market & Coastal Towns Initiative. This Plan will be reviewed annually by a partnership established to carry forward the initiative in Midsomer Norton, Radstock and their surrounding communities, fourteen in all

Do It

First stage consultation complete

Action Plan and Partnership

Amber

p22

The Bath Communities Partnership is seeking external funding to help improve the situation of Bath's Black & Other Minority Ethnic communities, and of residents of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the City, with initial priority given to the Twerton/Southdown area

Do It

RDA application (£1.5M) - decision pending

Amber

p26

Develop and publish an economic development vision and act on the priorities identified in the consultation

Do It

Vision published

Done

Green

p26

Open the UK's first natural hot spring Spa with the development of the three Spa sites through an innovative partnership venture to revitalise the UK's Spa culture

Do It

Green

P26

Introduce a Modern Apprenticeship partnership with City of Bath College to help improve the skill base and development of staff

Do it

Amber

Feasibility under discussion with City of Bath College

4. Analysis of Complaints (received in previous 6 months)

Waste

No complaints received

ECS

Ref

Nature of Complaint

Date Received

Date Resolved

Comment/Subsequent Change to Procedures?

ECS/

CC1

Charging of management fee for drainage works carried out in default

15/09/01

29/04/02

First and second stage investigation determined complaint unfounded; now subject of Ombudsman complaint.