Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report set out progress made during 2017/18 on implementing the objectives set out in the Corporate Plan 2016-19.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Strategy and External Partnerships

     i.        Noted the annual report and agreed to its publication on the City Council website.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Corporate Strategy.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

     i.        Sought clarification regarding who the report was aimed at as the impact that the council made was not set against measurable targets.

    ii.        Referred to p26 of the officer’s report and the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) and commented that the annual report did not provide the complete picture and explain public perception that the PSPO had not resolved the punt tout issue.

   iii.        Referred to council achievements including 431 completed affordable housing units, 26 empty homes brought back into use, the collection of 98% of council property rents.

  iv.        Asked for the Executive Councillor to comment on: the reduction in visits to community centres, p46 the reduction in the number of people cycling to work and p49 air quality.

   v.        Asked that next year’s report included good news as well as bad news.

 

The Head of Corporate Strategy said the following in response to Members’ questions:

     i.        The Annual Report was provided for members of the public and councillors to tell them what the council had achieved in the past year.

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy and External Partnerships said the following in response to Members’ questions:

i.             The report gave Councillors the opportunity to scrutinise the work the council had carried out.

ii.             The audience of the report also included members of staff who could celebrate their achievements.

iii.             The enforcement of the PSPO was a historical issue, due to court processes it had taken 9 months to get going and further work needed to be undertaken.

iv.             Confirmed a response regarding emissions and air quality would be forwarded on, as officers were not present to respond. The Air Quality Management Plan detailed that there were significant concentrations of emissions at bus stops, the train station, the Catholic Church at Hyde Park corner and the M11.

v.             Confirmed that variances of over 20% in performance indicators should be accompanied by a line of explanation.

 

The Committee resolved by 4 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendation.

 

The Executive Councillor agreed the recommendation.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.