Issue - meetings

Cabinet received an update on key projects across the four focus areas and secondly performance on key areas of the business including an update on the progress made since the peer review, shared services and customer response data. The indicators with regard to projects showed the Council was delivering well on the majority of projects and although five were currently behind target an update was included in the annex to the report with remedial actions.

East Kent Housing had progressed well against all their targets for the year and in the future would be providing increased monitoring against disabled adaptations to properties under their management. The time taken to process Housing and Council benefit claims by the Shared Service arrangements had fallen since last year whilst accuracy had increased. The collection rates on council tax and business rates were above target.

The Council had fallen below target with regards to the response time for Freedom of Information requests. However Members were advised that such requests had increased dramatically since 2012. The number of complaints recorded had fallen since 2013/14. A range of new approaches would be introduced for street cleansing and waste & recycling in order to improve the customer satisfaction.

The meeting was told that new litter and dog fouling patrol officers had been introduced and they would issue £80 fines for anyone dropping litter or not picking up after their dogs. Mechanical sweepers would be purchased across the district along with a new dog mess removal machine. An Environmental Education Officer would be appointed to provide advice and support in schools and communities for residents. Council’s performance against most targets had been met for the period under consideration.

Councillor I. Gregory and Councillor Bayford spoke under Council Procedure Rule 24.1.

Councillor Townend proposed, Councillor Stummer-Schmertzing seconded and Members agreed to note the report.