Agenda item

To consider a report of the Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement outlining the key performance issues relating to Environment and Neighbourhoods as at 31^st December 2007 and presenting the key areas of under performance at the end of Quarter 3 (1^st October to 31^st December 2007)

The Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement submitted a report outlining the key performance issues considered to be of corporate significance for the Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate as at the end of Quarter 3 (1^st October to 31^st December 2007).

Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods, attended the meeting to present the report and respond to questions from the Board.  The Chair also welcomed to the meeting, Executive Board Members Councillor J L Carter (Neighbourhoods and Housing) and Councillor S Smith (Environmental Services).

Issues raised by the Board on particular Performance Indicators were in brief summary:

·  BV-174 and BV-175 – The number of racial incidents recorded by the authority per 100,000 population and the percentage of racial incidents that resulted in further action – Issues of under reporting were raised by Members.  The Board requested information on the further action taken on racial incidents by area.

·  CP-CS50/LAA-SSC8/PSA1 – Reduce overall crime levels in Leeds by 35% by 2008 – Members were of the view that the current 30.5% reduction in crime levels was an excellent result as this was a very ambitious target.

·  LKI-EH8/CPA-H18 – Percentage of private sector homes vacant for more than 6 months – Officers advised that the Council was very effective in chasing up landlords of vacant property and taking enforcement action.  Performance was however being affected by the falling student market in Headingley and the increase in long term empty ‘investment’ properties in new city centre developments.  Members expressed concern regarding properties that had been empty for some time and which had become derelict.  It was suggested that Officers focus their efforts on particular problem areas of the city.

·  SP-KPI1 – Service users who are supported to establish and maintain independent living – Officers advised that the comparative information should soon start to be published by other authorities.

·  BV-184a/CP-HM51/CPA-H1 and BV-184b/CPA-H2 – The proportion of local authority homes which were non-decent at 1^st April 2007 and the percentage change in the proportion of non-decent LA homes which are not decent between 1^st April 2007 and 1^st April 2008 – Officers advised that the results seemed static due to work being carried out on the basis of individual elements rather than whole-house improvements.  Officers further advised that they were confident that decency levels would be met by 2010.

·  BV-91/CPA-E7A and BV-91b – Percentage of population resident in the authority’s area serviced by a kerbside collection of recyclables and Percentage of households resident in the authority’s area served by a kerbside collection of at least two recyclables –

¨  Officers advised that significant sums of money were being provided for the development of the service and they were confident that targets for this year would be achieved.  (Detail of this would be included in the Budget report scheduled for the Board’s meeting in March.) 

¨  The issue of providing high rise flats with recycling facilities was raised by Members, along with the need to encourage recycling by high rise residents – Officers advised that there were now planning regulations with regard to recycling facilities for new high rise flats.

¨  With regard to the percentage of green bin waste being contaminated, Members were advised that this was about 4%. 

¨  Officers agreed to provide Members with information on these indicators on a Ward basis.

¨  With regard to providing temporary recycling facilities on new housing estates, Members were advised that such facilities were not always practicable, however the Department was keen to provide more communal facilities generally.

·  LKI-RC1 – Number of household collections missed per 100,000 collections – Officers advised that the disparity in reporting missed bins by crews and members of the public had been brought to the attention of the management team.

·  BV218b/LAA-SSC57 – Percentage of abandoned vehicles removed within 24 hours from the point at which the authority is legally entitled to remove the vehicle - Officers advised that when contracts came up for renewal, contingency measures would be looked at to cover for when contractors were unavailable.

The Chair thanked the Executive Members and Officers for attending and responding to the issues, queries and concerns raised by the Board.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  With regard to BV175/CPA-H19 – The percentage of racial incidents that resulted in further action - that information be provided to the Board by Officers on the further action taken on an area basis.

(c)  With regard to BV-91/CPA-E7A and BV-91b – Percentage of population resident in the authority’s area serviced by a kerbside collection of recyclables and Percentage of households resident in the authority’s area served by a kerbside collection of at least two recyclables – that information be provided to the Board by Officers on these indicators on a Ward basis.