Agenda item

-      Verbal report and presentation

5:45pm to 6:10pm

The Deputy Leader and the Policy and Communications Manager attended to provide a progress report on the Council Plan for Year 2, 2016/17.

The Policy and Communications Manager advised that 77% of the key commitments for 2016/17 had been met with a further 16% close to being achieved. At the half year point the Council Plan was reviewed at a Corporate Cabinet and Corporate Management Team Away Day to evaluate what was working well, where improvements could be made and which of the key activities would be focussed on to achieve completion.

The following key achievements had been made under each priority:

To make Chesterfield a thriving borough
73% of key activities under this priority had been completed and this was expected to rise to 93% in early 17/18. Key achievements towards this priority included:

·        local labour clauses on 100% eligible developments;

·        £500k skills funding to support 1000 learners;

·        Infrastructure funding agreements through Sheffield City Region (SCR) for Waterside;

·        good occupancy at Markham Vale including 400 new jobs;

·        successful Artisan and Youth Markets and a new events programme for the town centre involving the Health High Streets project;

·        £2.85m funding from SCR for Peak Resort.

To improve the quality of life for local people

68% of key activities under this priority had been completed, 87% were expected to be completed by early 17/18. Key achievements towards this priority included:

·        £900k received from the Community Infrastructure Levy to date;

·        all Chesterfield Borough Council (CBC) homes achieving decent homes standard;

·        £200k assistance made available to help vulnerable home owners;

·        introduction of a new Empty Homes Strategy;

·        maintained green flag awards;

·        increased events and activities at parks;

·        introduced a new Tenancy Sustainment team;

·        1000 households involved in social inclusion projects.

To provide value for money services

90% of key activities under this priority had been completed and it was expected to reach 100% by early 17/18. Key achievements towards this priority included:

·        achieved a balanced budget for 2016/17;

·        Town Hall restack commenced;

·        establishing a Project Management Office;

·        commercial work programme developed and £84k of work won;

·        240 agile workers across the Council;

·        website improvements;

·        50% of crematorium bookings done online.

Some activities took longer than a year to be complete and consideration needed to be given when selecting activities that required a high level of external funding.

Members asked if the changes to control at County level and also changes in legislation would have an effect on the programme of activities, particularly health and wellbeing. The Policy and Communications Manager advised that there may be implications for some funding levels however the activities in the plan had been designed so that they were within CBC’s control and therefore more achievable.

Members raised concerns with youth unemployment and the high number of tenants in arrears. The Policy and Communications Manager replied that a number of changes from the government including the introduction of Universal Credit and the “Bedroom Tax”, and the changes to benefits for under 25s placed extra challenges on the ability for tenants to pay rent. A new Tenancy Sustainment team had been put in place to work with tenants to prevent arrears building up.

Members thanked the Deputy Leader and the Policy and Communications Manager for presenting their progress report and for answering their questions.

RESOLVED –

1.   That the progress report be noted.

2.   That the Deputy Leader and Policy and Communications Manager be invited to the November meeting of the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum to provide a progress report on the implementation of the Council Plan.