Agenda item

(Director of Governance) to consider the attached report.

The Director of Neighbourhoods introduced the quarter 4 outturn report for the Key Performance Indicators for 2015/16. The Committee noted that as part of the duty to secure continuous improvement, a range of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) relevant to the Council’s services and key objectives, are adopted each year by the Finance and Performance Management Cabinet Committee. Performance against the KPIs was monitored on a quarterly basis by Management Board and Overview and Scrutiny to drive improvement in performance and ensure corrective action was taken where necessary.

In this case the quarterly measurements would start from the start of the financial, 1^st April.

A range of thirty-six (36) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for 2015/16 was adopted by the Finance and Performance Management Cabinet Committee in March 2015. The KPIs were important to the improvement of the Council’s services, and comprise a combination of some former statutory indicators and locally determined performance measures. The overall position for all 36 KPIs at the end of the year was as follows:

(a)    27 (75%) indicators achieved target;

(b)    9 (25%) indicators did not achieve target; although

(c)    1 (3 %) of these KPIs performed within its tolerated amber margin.

Twelve of the Key Performance Indicators fell within the Neighbourhoods Select Committee’s areas of responsibility. The overall position with regard to the achievement of target performance at the end of the year for these indicators was as follows:

(a)     7 (58%) indicators achieved target;

(b)     5 (42% indicators did not achieve target; although

(c)     1 (8%) indicator performed within its tolerated amber margin. 

The committee went on to review each indicator that looked to be in trouble and to question any inconsistencies that they came across.

NEI001 – how much non-recycled waste was collected for every household in the district – Councillor Sartin asked what new ideas were coming forward to remedy this. She was told that officers had considered this that afternoon at the Waste Management Partnership Board, debating what was residual waste and what was fly-tipping. It may be that in the future fly-tipping may be stripped out. The Assistant Director, Technical, Mr Durrani said that we had adopted this as part of best practice, one lesson was to strip back the measurement and only measure what residents put in their non-recycling bin.

Councillor Bedford asked if there could be a centrally located collecting area for large items to help stop fly-tipping. Mr Durrani said that they could look at this. One problem was that once publicised it would become a de facto dumping ground and a fly-tipping point.

Councillor Bedford asked if there was a central map of where these tips occur and where we could set up covert cameras. Mr Durrani said that they were working with Biffa on this.

Councillor Bedford suggested that this Committee have a meeting on fly-tipping and have relevant officers come and talk to this problem. This was agreed by the committee.

AGREED: that a presentation be arranged on the problems and possible solutions of fly-tipping in the EFD area.

Councillor Whitehouse noted that she had seen bins with open lids with black bags sticking out. Mr Durrani said it was usually batteries or textiles that were placed on top. Officers were encouraging residents to recycle more and were also dissuading them on the misuse of the bins.  They were focusing on this now that they had extra resources and Biffa were being helpful by taking away the extra bags for us. Councillor Whitehouse asked if they knew which residents were doing this. Mr Durrani said that they left stickers on the offending bins and got their names.

Councillor Shiell asked what would happen if we refused to collect and the there was a build up of bags. Mr Durrani replied that at first a sticker was put on the bins but they emptied it. This was a marker for the future. It may be that that a particular household needed a larger bin for a few years and this would be kept under review.

Councillor Brady asked if the Council was thinking of giving smaller black bins in the future if more recycling was done. She was told that if a smaller bin was wanted they would be given one. However, if they wanted a bigger one we would have to assess their needs. If given we would then reassess them after a few years to see if they can revert back to a smaller one.

Councillor Bedford asked if we actively target residents who may want smaller bins and could Biffa sticker people who they know could have smaller bins. Mr Durrani said this was possible but they needed to find a smarter way to do this.

NEI002 – what % of all household waste was sent to be recycled, reused or composted - Councillor Neville asked about the collection to schools and were we contacting parish councils about educating them on recycling. Mr Durrani did not know about the school dates but noted that we had problems with recycling in flat blocks as the larger bins used tended to get contamination. They could provide the Town and Parish Councils information for their newsletters. Councillor Sartin noted that Officers did go out and about and give talks.

NEI003 – what % of our district had unacceptable levels of litter – It was noted that our contractors were looking at this and noting how we could update our records more quickly to help us improve these figures.

NEI004 – what % of our district had unacceptable level of detritus – this was similar to NEI003 due to out rural roads network. Biffa now have new equipment and were tackling this. Officers also carried out random surveys.

NEI008 – what % of the recorded incidences of fly-tipping…are removed within 10 working days of being recorded – asked when and in what circumstances fly-tipping was removed Mr Durrani said that if it was on the public highway we would clear it. If on the road it was for the County Highways department to clear it.  If on the public highway it should be removed as soon as possible. Complications arise if it is on private or unowned land. Officers would also have to find funding especially if it needed specialist clearing.

Councillor Rolfe commented that it seemed that it was left to Councillors to complain about fly-tipping.  They were the ones that had to explain to residents it was County Highways or EFDC that needed to be told. The Council needs to sort out who was responsible and get things cleared up as soon as possible. Mr Durrani replied that they logged all reports for fly-tipping and prosecuted where they could. If it was within our remit we would pick it up.  Officers would tell Biffa who would collect it within hours or a day.  Again, problems would arise if it was hazardous waste. Another problem was if it was on private land, as we could not enter their land so would have to negotiate with the land owner.  Something was always done when officers were informed, even if that’s just reporting it to county.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the committee reviewed and noted the Key performance Indicators within its areas of responsibility for 2015/16; and

(2)  That a presentation be arranged on the problems and possible solutions of fly-tipping in the EFD area.