Agenda item

The Chair asked the Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager, Tom Gorman to provide the Committee with an update in relation to the Quarter One, 2020/21 Performance Management Report (for copy see file of minutes).

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager thanked the Chair and referred Members to the information as set out within the report pack.  He explained the report contained the areas that fell within the remit of the Committee and noted the report was presented under the four ambitions as set out within the Council Plan.  He explained that in relation to ‘more and better jobs’ the area looked at by the Committee, jointly with the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee was tourism.  He noted the three main metrics in relation to tourism were: the vibrancy of the visitor economy, visitor numbers; jobs supported; and the money generated.  He added that for the 2020 calendar year, all three had been heavily impact by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Members were informed that the impact had been variable across the county, with Durham City impacted the most being the major tourism centre for the county, however, the county as a whole faired better than other areas across the country, with the majority of the visitors to the county coming from the region. 

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager explained a survey of local tourism businesses by Visit County Durham (VCD) on the impact of COVID-19 on businesses, showed a more positive picture following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, with most businesses reporting that they had been able to reopen with healthy numbers of enquires and bookings.  It was noted that 18 percent of businesses were predicting summer occupancy to exceed pre-COVID-19 levels, though that may be as a result of continuing international restrictions.  Members noted businesses had shared their concerns as regards the potential for further lockdowns and noted booking were more ‘last minute’.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager explained the Council had been awarded £2 million in external funding to support future tourism initiatives, with £1.2 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the new history centre at Mount Oswald and £724,000 from The Arts Council to support festivals and events such as Lumiere.  He added the Council had been reopening its own visitor attractions such as the Killhope Museum, Bishop Auckland and Durham Town Halls and the Empire and Gala Theatres, with refurbishments having been undertaken to the theatres during the lockdown period.  He noted that the Council’s bid for City of Culture 2025 had been successful in reaching the long list of eight areas, which in turn helps to generate interest in the county as a destination.  It was added that the next meeting of the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee, 11 November, would receive an update report from VCD and Members of the Environment and sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be invited to attend for that item.

In respect of the ‘long and independent lives’ ambition, the information relating to waste processing showed that the pandemic had impacted upon the amount of domestic refuse that was generated by households, also reflected nationally.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager explained that had been reflected in three major impacts locally, including an increase in tonnage of the waste collected, with a reduction in the proportion waste that was recyclable, and an increase in the tonnage of kerbside waste and that processed by the household waste recycling centres (HWRCs), again another trend seen nationally, including an increase in relation to the amount of waste diverted to landfill, nine percent up from five percent, though figures were returning to normal levels.  He added the third element was an increase in the proportion of kerbside recycling that was contaminated, though those figures had been increasing for a time and may not be wholly attributable to the pandemic.  He noted the financial impact of increased contaminated recycling, as the contractors that the Council employed to process the recycling sell the recyclable materials and were not able to do so if contaminated and would need to be diverted to another waste stream. 

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager highlighted the countywide action launched by the Council in terms of the recycling of small electronic appliances, with 29 collections points across the county.

In relation to the ‘connected communities’ ambition it was noted one of the indicators related to the blight caused by fly-tipping, with numbers having increased approximately 10 percent over the last 12 months to the end of June 2021.  It was explained that figures were returning to pre-COVID-19 levels, with the latest figures to September 2021 was 7,382 incidents, broadly comparable with the reports up to September 2020.  It was added the report detailed the work in terms of investigations and enforcement actions undertaken by Neighbourhood Wardens.

It was explained that the latest environmental cleanliness survey results for the April to July 2021 period had been collated, however, it was noted the survey had not been completed for that period in 2020 due to lockdown restrictions in place at the time.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager added that therefore the latest results were compared to the average results for the previous year, though that would not take into account issues such as seasonality.  He explained that figures were similar in terms of litter and dog fouling, however there was a significant improvement in relation to detritus. 

In connection with the ‘excellent Council’ ambition and the effective use of resources, the environmental impact of the use of those resources was considered, with a number of projects relating to the reduction of carbon emissions having been presented to Members earlier in the meeting.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager added the report contained additional information, including creating a zero carbon Council deport at Morrison Busty, involving development of a solar farm, LED lighting, to be completed by Summer 2022.

The Chair thanked the Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager and asked Members for their comments and questions.

Councillor E Adam noted the information relating to waste collection over the pandemic period and asked as regards the waste to energy, noting he did not see information detailing the increase of waste sent to incineration, and with any associated increases in CO₂ emissions from additional incineration and transport of waste.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager noted that could be included for a future report to give a more rounded picture of the impact of waste disposal with the Chair adding that waste management would be reported at the next meeting of the Committee.  Councillor E Adam noted that a previous infographic within the performance report had included those details and asked if there was a reason that it had been condensed.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager noted changes to reports following the changes to align with Council Plan ambitions but would look to provide a better picture of how our kerbside waste is processed. 

The Finance Manager - Neighbourhoods and Climate Change noted the increased tonnage in terms of waste collected, and while there was an increase in terms of the amount diverted to landfill, he noted that did not necessarily mean there was less recycling, rather higher tonnages of waste in general.

Councillor J Atkinson asked as regards the improvements as set out in the environmental cleanliness survey, noting from his experience there were issues and wondered if it was a case of less reporting of incidents.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager explained that the survey was carried out three times a year using a national methodology, with 500 transects used, with people physically going out to survey areas and score them according to the Keep Britain Tidy scheme.  He added that figures in the report for the period April to July 2021 probably misleadingly were compared to the average for the previous year.  This was because there were no figures available for the same period in 2020 as no inspections were carried out due to the pandemic.  He noted that when compared to the same period for 2019 the figures for dog fouling were statistically similar. 

Resolved:

That the report be noted.