Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Executive gave a brief overview of the Performance Report and advised Members that officers from the relevant areas were present to respond to any questions that arose.  The Measures Dashboard was also displayed to assist Members.  This was the first Corporate Performance report, which would in future be presented every two months covering a specific strategic purpose at each meeting together with a set of key corporate measures.  This initial report considered the strategic purpose ‘Keep my place safe and looking good’.

The following areas were highlighted and discussed in detail:

·         Anti-Social Behaviour – example of data, which Safer Bromsgrove drilled down into with real time data being considered by the Group.  It was noted that there had been a spike which had referred to a particular individual and details of how this had been dealt with were noted.  Members discussed how this could have a huge impact on such data and on a particular area.  It was noted that often the school holidays also triggered a spike in incidents.

·         Environmental Services – the top 5 high profile demands were detailed for each of the Place Teams.  The main areas were fly tipping and litter and it was noted that following the move to the Place Teams, who were able to react locally, with positive feedback having been received. 

·         In respect of bulky waste, it was noted that there had been a change in the way this service was provided, with a central team now responding to requests, which had proved more cost effective.

·         Members thanked the Place Teams for their hard work and asked if there was any new initiative to deal with fly tipping.  It was confirmed that a greater use of covert cameras was being planned with resources being used to raise the profile of their use and a lesson learnt from how they had previously been used.  It was hoped that with additional cameras this would help combat the problem.  It was also noted that there had been a number of successful, high profile; prosecutions which it was also hoped would act as a deterrent.

·         Work was also being carried out with Safer Bromsgrove and the Police to obtain funding for signage to also be used as a deterrent.

·         Members questioned the formalities which businesses had to go through to legally use the tips and were concerned that this may lead to fly tipping as an alternative.  Officers were not aware of the bureaucracy that needed to be gone through for small commercial operators and agreed to investigate this matter further.

·         Members raised the issue of education for young children in respect of recycling and whether visiting schools was something which had been considered.

·         Members asked how the recycling rate compared with other authorities both locally and nationally.  Officers confirmed that Bromsgrove had the highest rate within Worcestershire, with the national highest figure being 65%.  This referred to those authorities who provided free garden and food waste collections.

·         There were a number of projects planned which would highlight the need to eliminate cross contamination in recycling, which was currently a problem.

·         It was confirmed that the tips were solely run by Worcestershire County Council and the figures were not including within those of the Council.

·         The report also included a snap shot of the survey undertaken by the Bromsgrove Community Panel and concerns were raised in respect of feeling safe in the community after dark.

·         The report also covered a number of key corporate measures, including sickness.  A new system had been used and the figures included within the report were those for 2016/17.  The number of days absence per full time equivalent was 8.10 days.  The figures for 2017/18 would not available until April.

·         Members asked whether return to work interviews were held and Officers confirmed that they were and the new system would allow for these to be recorded more accurately and for Human Resources and Payroll to be able to access them to ensure that they were being carried out appropriately.

·         It was further confirmed that the figures were slightly below the average for other public sector organisations and the figures had remained broadly the same in recent years.

RESOLVED that the Corporate Performance Report be noted.