Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of City Development, Director of Children and Families, Director of Communities and Environment; and Chief Executive which provides the Best Council Performance report 2017/18.

The joint report of the Director of City Development, Director of Children and Families, Director of Communities and Environment and Chief Executive provided a summary of 2017/18 performance against the strategic ambitions, outcomes and priorities for the Council relevant to the Board within the Best Council Plan 2015-20.  Updates on Car Parking and City Region functions were also provided along with the performance indicators to be reported in 2018/19 arising from the new Best Council Plan 2018/19 – 2020/21.

Copies of the Best Council Plan Performance Summaries for 2017/18 and 2018/19 were appended to the report.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation

·  Sue Wynne, Chief Officer, Employment & Skills

·  David Feeney, Head of Strategic Planning

·  Jason Singh, Communities & Environment, City Centre and Parking

·  Mark Jefford, Service Manager, Communities and Environment, City Centre and Enforcement

·  Peter Storrie, Intelligence & policy Service, Resources and Housing

·  Councillor K Wakefield, Deputy Executive Board Member

·  Councillor P Gruen, Deputy Executive Board Member and Development Plans Panel Chair

Officers were asked to highlight the key performance indicators relating to the Board.  The following was discussed:

·  Support for people to improve their skills and how this targeted those detached from the labour market particularly those in deprived areas.  There was also a need for continued investment in higher skills especially with regard to growth in the City and how this related to further investment in the City.

·  Claimant rates for Employment Support Allowance, and support for  –those out of work with long term/health and disability problems. 

·  The delivery rate of courses by contracted providers for the provision of Adult Learning Programmes.

·  Information was requested in the success rate of people going into employment following participation in the Adult Learning Programme.

·  Comparative NEET rates. The Board were advised that there had been some joint work with providers and a new funding bid had been summited for provision to meet local needs better.  The outcome of this would be known in July.  NEET figures were in line with the national average and remained an obsession in the Children and Young People’s Plan.

·  Concern regarding those getting paid below the Real Living Wage and how to tackle this.  It was reported that there was a recent Government campaign to ensure that those not receiving the Real Living Wage could report this. 

·  Clarity was requested regarding the increased rate of business start-ups and what the split was between business start-ups and self-employment.

·  Growth in new homes – The Board were advised that there had been success in reducing the number of empty homes which had contributed to housing growth.  With regard to not meeting housing number demands, there were a number of factors relating to this including a number of planning permissions not being delivered. 

·  Increase in city centre travel by sustainable transport. Further clarity was requested regarding passenger numbers using bus as a mode of travel. The Board were advised that further park and ride proposals were being developed as well as a bike share scheme.

·  Numbers of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) in road traffic incidents – there had been a decrease in numbers but were still above target.  Further information was highlighted in relation to road safety training and details of KSI involving children and young people.  Further discussion included usage of cycle lanes, introduction of 20 MPH zones and monitoring and building up of intelligence to identify areas where safety measures would be beneficial. Concern was also expressed regarding the impact of cuts in police funding on traffic enforcement.

·  Car parking – areas highlighted included parking enforcement, provision of permits and the successful use of a CCTV vehicle for enforcement. Further issues discussed included free parking for ultra-low emission vehicles, removal of abandoned vehicles and trial of new payment methods for car parking.

RESOLVED –

(1)  The Best Council Plan 2017/18 performance information was noted.

(2)  The narrative updates on car parking and City Region Functions were noted.

(3)  The new Best Council Plan Key Performance Indicators to be reported during 2018/19 – 2020/21 were noted.