Issue - meetings

The Board considered the Quarter 4 Corporate Performance Report and received a brief summary of its content from the Head of Business Transformation.  It was highlighted to Members that of the 16 performance indicators included in the report 10 had improved and 6 had declined.  Improvements had been seen in the use of Bromsgrove Urban Rural Transport (BURT) scheme and Shopmobility and increased attendance at the Artrix Centre.  The area which was causing the most concern was the decline in usage of the town centre car parks.  The Head of Business Transformation confirmed that a marketing campaign was being prepared in conjunction with the car park management team, Wychavon District Council.

The Board discussed the following areas in detail and the Head of Business Transformation responded to questions on those areas:

• The decline in the use of the car parks and the financial implications to the Council – Members queried whether this was due to an increase in parking charges which may have occurred.  (Officers to seek clarification of any increase in charges and details of financial implications.)
• Details of the marketing campaign to promote the car parks and the aims and objectives, financial implications and reasoning behind working with Wychavon District Council.
• The increase in usage of the Artrix and the financial support provided by the Council. (Officers to clarify whether a review would be possible.)
• The processing of benefits and the improvements which could be expected from the transformation programme.
• The reasons for the delay in payment of invoices by the Council (Officers to seek further clarification on this point).
• Reference was made within the body of the report to 2 national indicators in respect of air quality and climate change, however further information was not given.  Members requested Officers to provide further information in respect of those indicators.
• The recording of complaints and the inclusion of the recommendations from the Planning Policy Task Group.

The Executive Director, Planning and Regeneration, Regulatory Services, Housing Services responded to points raised by Members in respect of the processing of planning applications and the comments provided within the report in respect of the delays which had occurred.  It was expected that improvements from the transformation process would have an impact on the figures for the first quarter of 2012/13.

RESOLVED:

(a)               that the Corporate Performance Report Quarter 4 be noted; and

(b)               that the Board receive a detailed report in respect of Car Parking, to include details of the marketing campaign, the financial implications of the reduction in usage and the aims and objectives and any cost implications of working with Wychavon District Council, at the meeting to be held on 10th September 2012.