Agenda item

    Report of the Assistant Chief Executive – Performance and Improvement 

    Team Leader, Regeneration and Economic Development.

The Chairman thanked the Performance and Planning Manager who was in attendance to speak to Members in relation to the Quarter 3, 2015/16 Performance Management Report (for copy see file of minutes).

The Performance and Planning Manager reminded Members of the different types of indicators reported, Tracker indicators and Target indicators.

Councillors noted that some of the key achievements in Quarter 3, representing September to December 2015, included a significant improvement in planning applications determined within deadline; the number of empty properties being brought back into use exceeding target; and that the occupancy of Business Durham premises had continued to rise and was at 85% against a target of 79%.

Members noted information relating to Tracker Indicators including: a significant increase in the number of net homes completed, 465 in comparison to 302 in Quarter 2; the number of affordable homes completed in Quarter 3 was 71, below the target of 80, however the total completions in 2015/16 were 257, ahead of the annual target of 250; the number of passenger journeys on the Park and Ride had increased by 14% in comparison to the same period last year, with the Lumiere festival contributing to this; and the number of visitors to core visitor attractions in County Durham, such as Beamish Museum, had increased by 12.2% in comparison to the previous year noting the impact of the Magna Carta and Yves Saint Laurent exhibitions.

Members noted progress with Council Plan actions, such as the regeneration work as regards Aykley Heads and North Road and the new “Chapter Homes” housing development.

It was added that the key performance issue for the theme were: the apprenticeship starts through DCC schemes being likely to not achieve its target of 200, though it was noted that it was expected that the number of starts would increase once funding was in place; 211 jobs were created through work with existing businesses, below a target of 600 with Members noting the target would be revised having been ambitious; and 120 private sector properties being brought back into use through Local Authority intervention, below a quarterly target of 149 and while the annual target of 599 was now likely not be achieved, it would be near to target.

Members noted the Tracker Indicators set out within the report including: a slight increase in the employment rate, with a continued decrease in the number of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimants aged 18-24; and a slight decrease in those accessing JSA for one year or more.  It was added that the employment rate had declined, was worse than the corresponding period the previous year, and was worse that the regional and national rates, which had increased this quarter.  Councillors learned that there was a slight improvement in the number of working age people who were out of work that wanted a job; however, this was worse than the North East and national averages.  Members noted that homelessness figures remained stable and the gross valued added (GVA) per capita was still significantly less than the regional and national figures. 

Councillors noted several key Council Plan actions that had not achieved target included: a delay in respect of a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid in connection with the historic quay at Seaham, from January 2016 to April 2016; ongoing work with the landowner of Festival Walk at Speenymoor; restoration of the former Boys Grammar School at Bishop Auckland being put back from May 2018 to December 2019 after an unsuccessful HLF bid; a delay in the feasibility study in connection with Bishop Auckland Town Hall and links to Auckland Castle from November 2015 to March 2016; and a revised date in terms of a £12 million EU funded programme to deliver access to finance support targeted at County Durham businesses, from March 2016 to March 2017.  It was added that a service plan action to carry out road re-alignment works at Villa Real, Consett were delayed from July 2016 to January 2017 as a consequence of further planned ground investigations.

The Chairman thanked the Performance and Planning Manager and asked Members for their questions on the report.

Councillor D Hall asked in relation to the number of empty homes, were they tracked in the longer term.  The Performance and Planning Manager noted that the Strategic Housing Market Assessment looked at all of the County with an average of approximately 4% of the stock being empty and that looking at the Council Tax database then those registered as empty could be targeted to be brought back in to use.  Councillor D Hall added that a rolling figure would help to see if the issue was being addressed, and noted that a national figure from the Local Government Association (LGA) showed that there was planning permission granted for approximately 500,000 homes with development having not yet been undertaken.  The Performance and Planning Manager noted that he believed the figure was around 15,500 for County Durham, however, would check and get back to Members with the information.

Councillor D Hall noted information in relation to s106 monies in lieu of the provision of affordable homes and asked how much had been allocated, how much had been collected and how much had been spent.  The Performance and Planning Manager noted he did not have the information to hand, however, it was tracked and he would look to provide the information to Members.  Councillor H Nicholson noted the s106 agreements were legal agreements and it would not be possible for developers to get away with paying, however, it was when such funds would come forward.  Councillor D Hall noted it would be useful information for Members as the use of s106 monies and the issue of empty properties were linked.

Councillor E Adam noted Table 2 on page 43 of the report referred to visitors in 2014 and asked if this was a result of data lag.  The Performance and Planning Manager noted it was a typographical error and should have referred to the period January to December 2015.  Councillor E Adam noted the work that had been undertaken in respect of the visitor economy in County Durham and asked why there was a decrease in the number of jobs in the visitor economy and also why the number of businesses engaged with by Visit County Durham (VCD) had decreased.  The Performance and Planning Manager noted that there had been a national downturn in terms of the visitor economy and that information as regards engagement would be sought from the Chief Executive of VCD.

Councillor J Clare noted that number of potential developments with planning permission that were not being actively developed was a national scandal and also noted the VCD performance, in the context of reduced funding and the disappointing figures in relation to GVA, employment rate and the visitor economy.  Councillor J Clare noted that the employment rate was worse that regional and national averages, however, the employment figures were consistently higher than the rest of the North East and asked why this was the case.  The Performance and Planning Manager noted he would look into this issue and get back to Members, adding that in some cases older people would have left the labour market for example.  Councillor H Nicholson asked whether there was an effect in terms of the move to Universal Credit (UC) and the Performance and Planning Manager noted that eventually UC would replace the other benefits and new definitions would be used and reported upon accordingly.

Councillor D Hall noted the figures in relation to apprentices and creating jobs within existing businesses and asked whether targets had been ambitious.  The Performance and Planning Manager noted they had been, however in terms of apprenticeships, subsequent to losing Government funding, the Council was looking to use its funds, together with EU funding, to tackle this and it was hoped that a direct improvement would be seen. 

The Performance and Planning Manager added that Business Durham had wanted an ambitious target in terms of jobs created within existing businesses, though they would now look at reviewing the target with Business Durham now taking a more proactive approach to inward investment.

Councillor D Hall asked if the responsibility for beaches fell under RED or Neighbourhood Services, the Performance and Planning Manager noted he would find further information in this regard.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.