Agenda item

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

·  The Council was currently in a transition period where, as a result of the new corporate plan with new corporate priorities (focussing on Growth, Environment and Communities) that was introduced in October last year, new performance targets and indicators would be used as of 1 April 2020;

·  The new form of data analysis would allow for easier explanation of performance figures and this would include information on public opinion;

·  Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 performance reporting would continue to use the current reporting format;

·  16 targets out of 24 were at or exceeding target. Three were at amber and five were below target;

·  The report generally showed improved performance, although there were eight targets of concern;

·  The public perception regarding satisfaction levels for street cleansing had gone down. On the other hand recycling satisfaction levels had increased;

·  Days in hotel accommodation had gone down, which reflected good performance, by the Housing Team;

·  Sickness stats were below target but was moving in the right direction;

·  Council tax and business tax collection was within target;

·  Officers were working on improving performance in those areas whose performance indicators were amber and red;

·  A vehicle procurement process was currently underway to replace the aging waste & recycling collection fleet. It was hoped that the new fleet would be in place by October this year.

Members responded by asking the following questions:

·  Indicators were about to be rewritten – was there any opportunity for Member involvement and how were the targets set?

·  Can the Council improve recycling rates even more?

·  What was the cause of the rising number of empty properties?

·  Were waste collection rates below targets because of parked cars blocking waste vehicles or where there additional challenges faced by the service?

·  When recycling collection was missed, were residents affected advised why their recycle was missed?

·  Why was domestic clinical waste collection being carried out monthly as opposed to the weekly collection?

·  Would there be a charge for domestic clinical waste collection?

·  What new targets would be included and how else would they change?

·  Could more information be provided about the education enforcement officer’s role?

Ms Thorpe, Mr Porter and Mr Willis responded as follows:

·  The council used a performance management framework, which sets out how it should manage its performance;

·  A lot of the targets were previous statutory requirements which the council was required by government to report on a national level;

·  TDC decided to carry on with those targets, as it set its own benchmarking;

·  The changes coming in April would provide an opportunity to refresh how performance data could be better presented;

·  Some of the data currently collected did not accurately present a valid representation of our successes and failures. There was therefore a need to capture meaningful data to enable Members to hold corporate services to account for performance and to reassure the public that the council was responding and tackling their concerns;

·  Members were welcome to be a part of the future performance management process;

·  With regards to recycling, TDC would like more residents to get involved;

·  The question regarding informing residents about missed recycling would be responded to by the appropriate service after the meeting;

·  Intervals for domestic clinical waste collection would best be directed at the portfolio holder during the presentation at the March Panel meeting;

·  With regarding to charging for domestic clinical waste collection, a decision was made last year not to impose a charge;

·  Recruiting an education enforcement officer would assist in educating the public about the benefits of recycling, which in turn would improve the council’s recycling and waste collection performance targets;

·  It was worth noting that Thanet had some of the least contaminated recycled waste in the region;

·  The Housing Team had been working hard to target the number of empty properties in the district and bringing them into use;

·  TDC brought more empty properties back into use than any other council in Kent;

·  It was worth noting though that a number of properties in the district were being turned into second homes and this number was gradually increasing;

·  The Housing Team was working on an ‘Empty Properties Plan’. Once ready, the Plan would be shared with Members in due course;

·  With regards to inconsiderate parking, the aim was to increase awareness of where cars were inconsiderately parked, and how this could prevent waste and emergency service vehicles from accessing streets to provide services to residents. Officers also sent out letters to the car owners and targeted specific problem areas;

·  With regards to clinical waste collection; there were no plans on charging for residential clinical waste. There would be a waste collection discussion at the Overview and Scrutiny Panel on the 17 March 2020 as part of the Cabinet Member presentation. This issue could be considered further during that presentation;

·  Additional information regarding the education enforcement officer would be circulated to Members once it was available.

Councillor Bayford proposed, Councillor Hopkinson seconded and Members agreed to a request for a Member/Officer panel to allow Members the chance to input into the review of future performance targets.

Councillor Bayford proposed, Councillor Lynda Piper seconded and Member agreed that the Empty Properties Action Plan be presented to Overview and Scrutiny Panel once it was ready.

Thereafter Members noted the report.