Agenda item

Hannah Thorpe, Head of Communications introduced the item and made the following comments:

• The overall message was that quarter 3 had seen more green indicators and some amber ones being reported;
• For the Clean & Wellbeing Environment – the performance was within target, particularly with regards to detritus;
• Mechanical sweepers had played a big part in the achievement of good performance indicators;
• Waste & Recycling has the red indicator. But it is anticipated to move out of the red in the next quarter;
• It was worth noting that the quality of recycling material collected by TDC is superior quality compared to neighbouring authorities;
• The Street Cleansing and Enforcement Teams are working well together to tackle littering in public spaces;
• Anti Social Behaviour is only about 4% away from satisfactory performance levels;

• Kent Police could be invited to the next meeting of the working party;
• The targets for tackling homelessness were not satisfactory and the council was working the issue;
• Officers expect an improvement in the processing of complaints as there will be a new staff structure in April;
• The processing of Freedom of Information requests (FOIs) is in the Red. The Interim Head of Legal Services was working on streamlining the processing of FOI requests and this is hoped to improve the performance;
• It was also worth noting that the number of these requests had dramatically increased;
• Staff sickness levels were continuing to improve.

After the presentation, Members made comments and asked questions as follows:

• Inward Investment – Job Creation – How will performance target for this item be reflected in the next quarter since the Council’s proposed Local Plan had not been approved?
• The mechanical sweepers were doing a great job regarding cleaning on street. However it was in off-road areas where more work was required to clean up litter;
• Can a member of the public request for an unscheduled street cleaning if litter was reported?
• Why were the performance levels for collection of recycling and dumped rubbish worse off in 2018 as compared to 2014?
• A six weeks wait for collection of bulk waste was too long. Why was it necessary to wait this long?
• Street sweeping performance figures were very good;
• Graffiti incidents across the district were increasing;
• Residents’ satisfaction level for street cleaning had gone down in 2018 to 31% from nearly 50% in 2014. Why?

• Standard response times to reports of crime (e.g anti social behaviour)?
• Crime statistics: Members were concerned by the performance figures for this issue. This issue would be reviewed at the Community Safety Partnership Working Party (on 20 February) where Kent Police representatives would be in attendance;
• Homelessness – Was Council working on any specific strategies to address this problem?
• Members sought to understand what would happen if the council missed the deadline for responding to FOIs (i.e 20 days).

In response to Member comments and questions, Hannah Thorpe, Trevor Kennett (Head of Operational Services) and Tim Willis (Director of Corporate Resources) made the following comments:

• The Local Plan issue had no direct impact on the current processing of planning applications as these applications will continue to be processed whilst the Local Plan issue would be resolved separately. There could be implications in the longer term if there continues to be no resolution to the Local Plan;
• Waste and recycling collection: The mechanical sweepers were being used in conjunction with manual sweepers;
• Operational Services respond to sudden incidents of litter that would have been reported by Members;
• Recycling figures have levelled out and were lower than the 2014 because in 2014 that’s when the new service had just been introduced;
• Dumped rubbish: There was now a better recording system these incidents than before;
• There has been an increase in demand for bulky waste collection. Bulk waste collection had been reviewed to improve the process by reducing the waiting times before collection;
• Council had introduced a new graffiti cleaning service to assist most households who do not have the means to clean graffiti. This service would also add to council income;
• Operational Services were focusing on verges and  general cleanliness around the district;

• Homelessness: East Kent Housing and TDC were working on strategies for minimising voids;
• Additional funding had been allocated to the 2018/19 council budget to tackle homelessness;
• Alternative temporary accommodation will be procured in 2018/19 that offers better value for money, longer term leased accommodation to be used as temporary accommodation. Negotiations with private property owners were still on-going to secure competitive pricing;
• FOIs processing: Council would still process the request even when a deadline would have been missed. Persistent breach of deadlines would potentially attract a fine;
• Responding to FOIs was currently a top priority for Legal Services.

Members noted the report.