Agenda and minutes

(Councillor St. John, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services and Sport to attend for this item.)

Kevin Burke, Countryside Manager, to report.

-           to summarise key aspects of the performance of Rother Valley Country Park by Oak Holdings.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Countryside Manager, summarising key aspects of the performance of Rother Valley Country Park by Oak Holdings plc against key criteria.

Reference was made to the following:

•         Business Plan:-  progress on:-

-          Miniature railway and stations

-          Green Flag Inspection

-          Art Trail

-          Team building events

-          Family Tree planning Scheme

-          Countryside Stewardship

Initiatives yet to be progressed:-

-          New fishing platforms

-          Clearer information boards

-          New wildlife and bird hides

-          A programme of guided walks

•                                 Output Specification including:-

-          Community involvement and volunteering

-          Tenant Forum and tenant involvement

-          Engagement with priority groups

-          Service delivery:-  staffing restructure and creation of education, estates and maintenance teams;  appointment of a marketing manager

-          Landscape management

-          Security

-          General Operational Provisions:  website construction and links with the Council’s website;  new trails leaflet

-          Improvements to the Watersports Centre

•                                 Corporate Priorities and Local performance Indicators:-

-          Facility usage

-          Visitor figures;  large events e.g. Party in the Park and Dragon Boat Race.

•         Interim Management Agreement:-

-                      Insurance, open book accounting and charges for services

The current level of investment in the park was also detailed, together with the quality of the facility and events to meet customer expectations.

Those present discussed the current operation of Playdales, the Café and the Miniature railway.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the content of the report be noted.

(2)  That the Cabinet Members receive 6 monthly performance reports, together with an annual accounts report.

(3)  That a copy of the financial statement, when received, be sent to the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Cultural Services and Sport.

Alan Platt, Best Value Officer, to report.

-           to consider the 4^th Quarter performance results

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Best Value Officer, report outlining the performance results up to the fourth quarter of the year 2009/2010. The report focuses on indicators affected by the following issues:-

• Performance measures in the EDS suite of performance indicators
• Performance indicators that have not reached their target setting
• Performance clinics
• All England upper quartile comparisons 2007/2008
• PriceWaterhouseCoopers upper quartile comparisons 2008/2009
• The New Performance Framework – Single Set of National Indicators, out of 198 indicators, EDS indicators are identified in this report. Local Area Agreement (LAA) indicators for which EDS is responsible have also been identified.
• Equalities report
• Risk Management report.

It was reported that the total number of indicators reported on was 109 out of which:-

71.6% had achieved target

9.2% were slightly outside target

12.8% had not achieved target

The following items were highlighted and discussed:-

Reference was also made to the general direction of travel and to a number of indicators that had also declined.

Those present discussed:-

• BV 178 – Footpaths and rights of way easy to use by the public noting the 31 point check list used to carry out observational surveys now takes place at 18 month intervals
• Proposal by Streetpride to withdraw the old Best Value Waste Management Indicators from April 2010.
• Declining employment rate
• External funding streams e.g. for Westgate Demonstrator;  All Saints Square.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the performance indicator fourth quarter results for 2009/2010 be noted.

(2)  That the Council’s position in comparison with the Audit Commission 2007/2008 All England upper quartile results be noted.

Nichola Stretton, Finance Manager, to report.

-           to report performance against budget at the end of May 2010.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Finance Manager, detailing the performance against budget for the Environment and Development Services Directorate Revenue Accounts at the end of May 2010 and to provide a forecast outturn for the whole of the 2010/11 financial year.

It was pointed out that the Coalition Government’s in-year grants cuts had not been factored into the report for this period.

Attention was drawn to the following pressures:-

-                      Asset Management:-  office accommodation (primarily Aston Joint Service Centre and Doncaster Gate)

-                      Reduced ability to contain vacancy management targets

-                      Winter maintenance budget

-                      Highways maintenance budget

-                      Business Unit – costs and savings

Concern was expressed at the size of the predicted overspend at this early stage in the financial year, in view of the corporate requirement to identify further savings.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the forecast outturn position of an overspend of £720,000 for the Environment & Development Services Directorate based on expenditure and income as at May 2010 be noted.

(2)  That the report be referred to the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel for information.