Agenda item

To consider the attached report of the Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement presenting the key areas of under performance at the end of Quarter 3 (1^st October to 31^st December 2008).

The Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement submitted a report presenting for the Board the key areas of under performance at the end of Quarter 3 (1^st October to 31^st December 2008). 

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Councillor Andrew Carter, Executive Member for Development and Regeneration and Jean Dent, Director of City Development and Paul Maney, Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement, City Development.

The Director presented the report and summarised progress on a wide range of indicators which were the responsibility of the City Development department. These responsibilities include environmental and transport matters, economic and leisure activities.  Members were advised that some of the indicators are national indicators, others are indicators within the Council’s own Strategic Plan, and a number are local indicators set by the department.  The Director pointed out that generally performance and the quality of data was good and that the department was moving in the right direction in virtually all of these indicators. 

However, the Director informed the meeting that there were concerns around the economy, falling revenue and increasing pressure on budgets. 

The Executive Board Member referred to some of these pressures including the state of the national economy, falling income as a consequence of fewer planning applications being submitted and falling visitor numbers at our sports centres.  He referred specifically to LSP-TP1E – a Leeds Strategic Plan Partnership Agreed indicator which relates to new customers on low incomes accessing credit union services.

It was stressed that the indicators around worklessness were obviously very challenging due a substantial increase in the number of people on benefits in the city in the last few months.

Attention was also drawn to LSP-EE1A – a Leeds Strategic Plan Partnership Agreed indicator (support the establishment of 550 new businesses). The Director informed the meeting that there was a lack of clarity in these figures and referred Members to LEGI1 which gave a more accurate assessment of the number of new businesses that had been created. 

Some Members expressed the view that perhaps some of the targets were not stretching the department enough.  In response, the Director informed the meeting that targets were reviewed regularly and some were agreed with government and some with partners.

Members asked about Climate Change and specifically the carbon reduction targets and the Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement explained the complex nature of NI 185, a Leeds Strategic Plan Government Agreed indicator, and outlined the progress being made.

Members commented on or made reference to a number of indicators including:

·  Business Plan/LSP – NI185/NI 188.

·  Leeds Strategic Plan Partnership - LSP-EE1A.

·  LSP-CU1A(I) – Number of physical visits to Libraries.

·  NI 157 - Process of major Planning Applications. 

·  NI 8 – Adult Participation in sport and active recreation.

·  LSP-TP1E – Low incomes accessing Credit Unions.

·  LSP-TR1B(I) – Local bus passenger journeys. 

·  NI 151 – Employment Rate.

·  NI 157  – Processing of minor Planning applications. 

·  LEGI1/LEGI2/LEGI3 – Establishment or relocation of new businesses in deprived areas.

·  LEGI4i/LEGI4ii – The Creation of 1,100 jobs. 

The Chair thanked the Executive Member and Officers for their attendance.

RESOLVED -

(a)  That the content of the report and appendices be noted.

(b )  That with regard LSP-TP1E, the Principal Scrutiny Adviser obtain a copy   of the Department of Works and Pensions definition of "low incomes" and circulate it to all Members of the Board.