Bath & North East Somerset Council

MEETING:

Council Executive

AGENDA
ITEM
NUMBER

MEETING DATE:

15^th January 2003

TITLE:

Environment Four-monthly Performance Report

WARD:

All

AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM

List of attachments to this report:

Appendix 1 The Four-Monthly Environment Performance Report dated 18^th December 2002

Contact person

Clive Thomas, Strategic Director (Economic & Environmental Development)

Background papers

none

Date

18 Dec 02

Reporting Area

Environment

Lead Director

Clive Thomas

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Status/Who ?

Leadership

· Regular liaison meetings with Property Services

· Joint working with Private sector on planning issues

· Bath Spa 10 yr Development framework

· DEFRA funded projects progressing:

plastics expansion to be phased in from Dec 02 across district:

Bulky waste project has experienced delays in setting up of furniture workshops, contingencies being developed in absence of year 2 funding. Retail outlet at Ham Gardens progressing well Target end January to open.

· Best Value Review Action Plan now being progressed

· Car clear partnership progressing well. Briefing session held with Executive member and police/firebrigade personnel.

Pioneering rethink Rubbish campaign continuing with extensive advertising and programme of events

· Assist in joining up approaches to issues

· Dialogue continuing

· Continued dialogue needed to progress. Overview and Scrutiny likely to investigate Student Housing Issue

· Yr 2 funding for Bulky waste project not successful. Contingenices now being planned to extend longevity of project as far as possible.

· Funding for plastics expansion included as a development bid within the budget process.

· Kathy Timmins appointed within TAWM to aid progress with action plan.

· Year 2 funding from police & fire authorities in doubt. No external funding secured as yet.

· Review of landfill tax credit scheme means that future funding for campaign is uncertain

David Davies

Gary Collins

Steering Group

Executive Members

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Status/Who ?

Leadership

· Liaison meetings with TAWM on public realm and major projects

· Receipt of Quality Mark for Consumer Advice from Legal Services Commission

· Consumer advice community shop at New Bond Street

· Environment Park - 24 contractors have responded with expressions of interest from PIN notice. Consultant to be appointed to advise on procurement contract documentation and strategic partner agreement

· Agreed approach to work on the streets and spaces together and with proper co-ordination on major schemes

· None

· Look for future opportunities

· Future Resourcing

Vaughan Thompson and E. Flanagan

Howard Nowell

Richard Robertson

People Management

· Change in Tourism delivery (arms length company) will have resource implications.

· Staff Resources - unsuccessful in appointment of Head of Waste Management & Zero Waste

· Transfer of operational staff to Direct Services completed September 2002.

· Needs careful analysis and explicit budgetary decisions relative to performance of Tourism

· Revised structure being implemented, including appointment of a consultant to progress zero waste issues

· Revised job descriptions for staff.

Bill Cotton

Clive Thomas

People Management

· Giles Ingram seconded from Bristol Tourism Company as interim Tourism Manager

· Completion of disability equality audit

· Appointing Staff to vacancies now company structure is clearer

· Development of disability equality action plan

HoS

Policy and Strategy

· Awareness of new planning regulation following the Green Paper

· Zero waste strategy to be developed by a consultant, with high profile in waste sector

· Public Service Agreements developed for increased waste recycling & enhanced public convenience provision

· Local plan needs to be ready to adapt to new requirements

· Consultant to advise on environment park development also. Funding available through strategic rail authority grant.

· PSA's currently being negotiated with government

David Davies and V Thompson

Richard Robertson

Corporate Projects

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Status/Who ?

Policy and Strategy

· Draft Sustainable Economic Development Plan out to consultation Dec - Jan 2003

· Employment land study and small sites study to contribute to local plan

· Role of Joint Unit being examined in advance of new legislation

· Street Trading Policy agreed

· Public convenience strategy to be considered in further detail by executive member

· Good progress is being made on the World Heritage Site Plan

· Changes after consultation need to be made and agreed

· Ensuring proper integration into Local Plan process

· Increased role for transportation issues and interface with regional assembly

· Implementation

· Revision of current report in line with executive member aspirations

· Draft document to be agreed for consultation purposes

D Davies and V Thompson

EML Manager

Richard Robertson

D Davies

Resources

· Work load Fund

· Tourism Underachievement of income

· Planning work load levels still at a very high level

· Voluntary sector grant budget agreed

· Government Grant of £114K awarded for the treatment of fridges in 2002/03. 4500 fridges currently in storage at Entry Hill can now be recycled this financial year.

· Landfill tax funding for year 2 of the Rethink Rubbish Campaign has been confirmed as being secure, despite the review of the operation of the landfill tax credit scheme.

· Rail Track Access Grant now secured.

· Major applications are likely to reduce performance in Planning without additional resource

· Recovery plan awaited.

· Communication and distribution

· This funding will be allocated through the SSA in future - must be earmarked for treatment of fridges to ensure storage facility at Entry Hill is no longer essential. Planning Consent for Entry Hill extended only until July 2003.

· The review of the landfill tax credit schemes recommends significant changes to the allocation of funds. It is unclear as yet how funds will be administered in future, but only a third of the monies currently available will be bid for through current system.

Optimistic that LA's should have easier access to funds in future.

David Davies

David Davies

Done

Clive Thomas

Clive Thomas

Progress Made

Issues to be addressed

Status/Who ?

Resources

· Long Term sickness issues impacting on performance in some areas

· Environmental and Consumer Services forecast year end under spend (180K)

· Long Term sickness does impact on performance but difficulties in dealing with issues in the context of employment law

· Ring fenced for Best Value Improvement Plan Actions

David Davies Human Resources

Howard Nowell

Process

· Extent of delegations of planning decisions

· Gain clear agreement from RDA on where Market & Coastal Towns project is going - clarification sought from RDA (workshop held in December)

· Major Planning Application Delivery contract agreed

· Licensing Committee member training

· Method statements for Cleansing enforcement received. Timetable agreed with Direct Services for additional method statements.

· Outcome of Overview and Scrutiny awaited

· Focus needs to move to action rather than discussion

· This is necessary to counter the problems of the BVPI relating to major projects

· Training day 13 December

· Revision of 3 contract specs into 1 to be completed by April 2003

Bill Cotton

David Davies

HoS

Matthew Smith/Clive Thomas

Process

· Enforcement Policy out for consultation

· Planning Services High satisfaction level by user 81%

· Under age alcohol sales test purchasing initiative - 8 of 22 `fail'

· Parish Sweeping Scheme - report agreed by executive. Revisions to scheme to be implemented in April 2003

· It is vital to achieve prioritisation of enforcement issues

· The increase in satisfaction levels by nearly 20% in two years is a reflection of better service delivery.

· Consider prosecution

· Anticipate £30K savings. Cleansing zone maps need revising in accordance with parish wishes where appropriate.

David Davies

FTS Manager

CT/Direct Services

Performance Targets

No.

%

RED

5

9%

AMBER

13

25%

GREEN

24

45%

NOT KNOWN

11

21%

TOTAL

53

100%

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/

01

Actual

2001/

02 Est/

Actual

2002/3 Target

2002/

03

Estd Out-turn

Status

Comment

ENVIRONMENTAL & CONSUMER SERVICES

179

Percentage of standard searches carried out in 10 working days

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Green

166

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

8

8

8

Green

Local37

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

91%

89%

92%

91%

Amber

Local38

Percentage of Building Regulations Applications appraised within 3 weeks

94%

92%

93%

93%

Green

p22

Extend the Shopmobility service to other towns outside Bath

Do It

Red

Dependant on sponsorship funding - not now a possibility until later years

PLANNING SERVICES

106

Percentage of new homes built on previously developed land.

84%

63%

70%

55%

Too early to estimate

NK

There can be significant differences each year depending on which sites come forward.

107

Planning cost per head of population

£7.46

£17.40

£17.14

Less than

£17.14

NK

NK

Detailed work on costs is being carried out in the Best Value Review

108

Number of advertised departures from the statutory plan approved by the Authority as a percentage

of total permissions granted

0.07%

0.15%

0.10%

Less than 0.2%

NK

NK

This indicator has now been dropped by the Government on the basis that it has no value

109

Percentage of applications determined within 8 weeks

71%

54%

63%

68%

67%

Amber

Two long term sickness issues are beginning to impact on performance

109a

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

NK

7%

33%

45% (local target 30%)

35%

Red

The Council has written to the Minister to explain the difficulty in achieving the 45% in this Authority

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/

01

Actual

2001/

02 Est/

Actual

2002/3 Target

2002/

03

Estd Out-turn

Status

Comment

109b

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

NK

49%

59%

60%

60%

Green

The Government target for B.&N.E.S. in this category is 55%

109c

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

NK

55%

67%

70%

69%

Green

The Government target for B.&N.E.S. in this category is 66%

111

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

84%

63%

-

+10%

81%

Green

The latest user satisfaction survey has shown an increase by 18% in two years

112

Score against a checklist of planning best practice

70%

44%

67%

78%

80%

Green

Local

31

Percentage of valid registrations registered within 3 working days

NK

NK

85%

100%

92%

NK

Local

32

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

NK

NK

95%

100%

98%

NK

Local

33

Percentage of written enforcement complaints acknowledged within 5 working days

NK

NK

92%

100%

98%

NK

A long term sickness issue and other staff changes have affected this

Local 34

Percentage of sites subject to enforcement inspection visited within

5 working days

NK

NK

98%

100%

98%

NK

A long term sickness issue and other staff changes have affected this.

P17

Submit bids for external funds for the Wildthings Partnership to carry out key activities

-

-

-

Do it

Done

Green

All bids to date have been successful and have levered in significant levels of funding

P17

Improve access for all within the Manor Road Community Woodland at Keynsham

-

-

-

Do it

Work is currently being carried out

Green

Work will be completed by the end of March

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/

01

Actual

2001/

02 Est/

Actual

2002/3 Target

2002/

03

Estd Out-turn

Status

Comment

P17

Make a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to help us continue the successful field boundaries project

-

-

-

Do it

The bid has been successful

Green

Officer in post June 2002

P17

Encourage more schools to take part in Familink visits during Spring 2002

-

-

-

Do it

This has happened during the Spring period

Green

Further programme now taking place in the Autumn

SUSTAINABILITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Local15

Percentage local unemployment below national unemployment

2.0%

2.1%

2.2%

1.8%

Red

Local unemployment unlikely to reduce further as national figure reduces

Local16

Long term unemployment as a percentage of total unemployment

38%

37%

36%

22%

Green

Local17

Reduction in unemployment in key wards in B&NES

4.1%

3.5%

3.3%

Red

Local18

Numbers of existing businesses advised

320

320

350

159

Green

Multiple advice sessions delivered to many of 159 companies

Local19

Number of potential new businesses provided with training

215

140

160

212

Green

Local20

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

45%

41%

45%

22%

Business starts slowing down due to downturn in confidence - part of national trend

Local21

Average annual room occupancy in hotels and guest houses

60%

63%

65%

63%

Amber

International Tourism affected by world events

Local22

Average length of stay in hotels and guesthouses [nights]

1.8

1.7

1.8

1.8

Green

Local23

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

166,000

250,000

272,000

Green

Investment needs to continue to maintain growth.

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

Doing it

Amber

Project making slow progress. Review in New Year

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/

01

Actual

2001/

02 Est/

Actual

2002/3 Target

2002/

03

Estd Out-turn

Status

Comment

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

Done

Green

Bid of £1.5M achieved. Setting up partnership and development projects ready for next year

p26

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

Do It

Done

Green

Part of draft Economic Development Strategy

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

Red

Scheme examined and not pursued as not viable

TRANSPORTATION ACCESS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

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%

61.55%

Amber

Figures based on two surveys carried out in May 2002 and November 2002 covering in total 5.08% of the network length.

WASTE SERVICES

Scope of reporting Area:

Policy & strategy relating to waste management throughout the district.

Discharging legal responsibilities as a Waste Collection and Waste Disposal Authority.

Responsible for the strategic management of the refuse collection & street cleansing contracts.

Policy & practice relating to household waste & recycling centres & waste transfer & disposal operations.

Specifying, tendering & managing all waste management contracts.

Waste awareness, campaigns. Waste education in schools and the community.

Policy & strategy relating to the provision of public conveniences.

82a

Percentage of household waste recycled

14%

16%

18%

22%

19%

A

Total recycling rate 25%. Target is 30%.

Plastics expansion to be phased in December.

82b

Percentage composted

4.2%

5%

5%

8%

6%

A

Delays in implementing SITA trials due to late publication of DEFRA risk assessments.

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/

01

Actual

2001/

02 Est/

Actual

2002/3 Target

2002/

03

Estd Out-turn

Status

Comment

82c

Percentage used to recover heat, power and other energy sources

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

G

82d

Percentage landfilled

79%

79%

77%

70%

75%

A

Recycling rate below target of 30%. Currently recycling 25% of waste.

84

Number of kilograms of household waste collected per head

466kg

489kg

492kg

492kg

495kg

A

Target is zero growth per annum, so is revised annually based upon last years actual.

85

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

£36180

£102437

£102437

Not applicable

Indicator ceased.

N/A

N/A

86

Cost of waste collection per household

£25.66

£24.06

£34.11

£34.11

£34.11

A

Costs now include costs of refuse collection & costs of recycling collections combined. Previously just refuse collection costs. Actual figure is calculated from year end RO figures.

87

Cost of waste disposal per tonne for municipal waste

£27.17

£50.30

£49.95

£50.95

£50.95

A

Actual figure based on year end RO figures including overheads. £1 per tonne increase in landfill tax

88

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

28

172

116

92

G

No longer reported nationally, but retained as a local indicator.

.

89

Percentage of people satisfied with cleanliness standards

71%

67%

68%

Not known

Satisfaction indicators not assessed as yet. To be measured corporately.

Local24

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

67%

81%

82%

71%

A

Above average results. To be compared with 2000/01 results as both were carried out by independent body. 2001/02 carried out by neighbouring LA officers.

90a

Percentage expressing satisfaction with household refuse collection

90%

80%

Top25%

Not known

Satisfaction indicators not assessed as yet. To be measured corporately.

90b

Percentage expressing satisfaction with recycling facilities

73%

77%

Top25%

Not known

As above

Ref.

Indicator

Top 25%

2000/

01

Actual

2001/

02 Est/

Actual

2002/3 Target

2002/

03

Estd Out-turn

Status

Comment

90c

Percentage expressing satisfaction with waste & recycling centres

77%

77%

Top25%

Not known

As above

91

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

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

G

P17

Must contain all relevant commitments in Performance Plan plus others in the current year Service Plan. Should not include performance indicators.

Do it

Green, Amber, Red

On Target; Reasons for expected non-achievement

P17

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

Do it

amber

Zero waste strategy to be developed alongside core waste management strategy document. A draft strategy has been adopted which details stringent recycling targets

P17

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

Do it

green

Trials commenced Oct 2002 for 12 months

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

Funding allocated for a 2 year period. Campaign commenced in 2002.