Agenda item

To consider the report (attached).

The Acting Chief Executive, D Macnab, reported that a Task and Finish Panel had been set up to review the current framework of the select committees. Going forwards any changes made to the select committees would impact on the key performance indicators sets.

(1)       Aim 1, People live longer, healthier and independent lives, Performance indicator M1.2, Number of take-away restaurants signed up to ‘Tuck In’

This was an Essex County Council initiative. The Council had received additional funding for this public health initiative to try and raise the profile of the scheme within the Epping Forest District. A fourth business, The Three Colts (Public House), had signed up to the scheme.

(2)       Aim 3, operational objective 3.2.1, Provide leisure centres

The successful opening of the Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre in November 2018 had resulted in a growth in memberships and users. This was very encouraging as also numbers at Epping Sports Centre and Loughton Leisure Centre had increased.

Councillor J H Whitehouse asked if a decision had been taken on leisure facilities at North Weald. D Macnab replied that a report on the development of St John’s Road, Epping, as the preferred site, had gone to Cabinet in December 2018. Meeting the future recreational needs of North Weald would be taken on board.

Councillor M Sartin asked if the leisure/sports centres had their own targets? D Macnab replied, yes, as the number of targets was set in the leisure management contract itself. The Leisure Management Contract Partnership Board regularly reviewed the performance of the contract, of which both the agendas and minutes were available for members to view on the intranet. Going forwards the Leisure Contract Manager, P Charman, would be asked to keep the Neighbourhoods Select Committee members apprised of progress reported at the Partnership Board meetings.

(3)       Aim 4, Delivering effective core services that people want, operation objective 4.1.1, Keeping the District clean and green

Councillor S Neville asked if there was a timeline for when the overview would be completed? Q Durrani, Service Director (Contracts and Technical Services), replied that the Government had recently published its Resources and Waste Strategy for England which would have a huge impact on local authorities and the waste industry. The Council would take part in consultations in the early part of 2019. Both this Council and Essex County Council would be highlighting to MPs some of the challenging issues the industry would be facing. Any changes to waste management services because of the new strategy would be reviewed during the year. D Macnab clarified that this Council was a waste collection authority while Essex County Council was a waste disposal authority.

(4)       Aim 4, Performance indicator M4.2, Percentage of the District with unacceptable levels of litter

Councillor M Sartin asked if the litter thrown from vehicles was in particular areas of the District or widespread? Q Durrani replied that through roads in the District were the worst affected. New legislation coming in April 2019 would allow the Council to use dash cam and photographic evidence given to the Council. Officers would be driving along these roads and use enforcement powers to try and curb such littering offences. Waste Management was also looking into increasing the frequency of the streets mechanical sweeps. Councillor M Sartin asked if an appropriate publicity campaign on this littering problem would be undertaken. D Macnab replied that officers made representations to schools on littering and the Council supported Keep Britain Tidy.

The Chairman, Councillor N Bedford, asked if specific areas were targeted. Q Durrani replied that the Council helped and supported local councils that undertook littering campaigns within their boundaries, but problems in other areas were based on intelligence received. The Chairman added that it might help if Legal Services drafted a statement for the public submitting dash cam footage.

Councillor S Heather asked if Neighbourhood officers could issue on the spot littering fines, to which Q Durrani replied, yes, this was currently done.

(5)       Aim 6, An environment where businesses thrive, corporate objective P114 for St John’s Road Development

This was shown as being at the ‘closure’ stage to reflect that the Council was no longer with the previous scheme but as this was not clear, further clarification would be supplied next time.

(6)       Aim 6, Operational objective 6.3.1 Implement Tourism and Visitor Economic Strategy

Councillor M Sartin asked about progress on the Council’s tourism strategy and investment plan, to which D Macnab replied that this was all in hand and on target.

(7)       Aim 6, M6.2 Number of new jobs

The Government was promoting the health of high streets, but only Waltham Abbey met the criteria. It was noted that the increase in visitors to the District shown on this graph for 3 November 2018 was to attend ten firework display events.

            RESOLVED:

(i)            That the Select Committee reviewed and noted the progress of the Corporate Performance Report for 2018/19, Quarter 3 (outturn position), in relation to its areas of responsibility.

(ii)           That the Leisure Contract Manager, P Charman would keep the Neighbourhoods Select Committee members apprised of progress reported at the Leisure Management Contract Partnership Board meetings.