Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive – presented by Graham Tebbutt,

Customer and Services Intelligence Manager, Regeneration and Economic

Development.

The Chair introduced the Performance and Planning Manager, Graham Tebbutt who was in attendance to speak to Members in relation to the Quarter 1, 2012/13 Performance Management Report (for copy see file of minutes).

The Committee were asked to note a slight amendment to the report style, with actions now being listed and coloured red, green and white, being not on target, on target and completed respectively.

Members noted that key achievements for the quarter included the proportion of East Durham Homes (EDH) properties not meeting decency criteria had reduced significantly as too had the proportion for Dale and Valley Homes (DVH).  It was added that the proportion for Durham City Homes (DCH) had increased, albeit this had been at 0% and that the cycle of ongoing works to properties meant that the number would return back to 0% once works were completed.  The Performance and Planning Manager added that the Stock Option Appraisal was on track, with the Committee being kept up to date by regular attendance by the Housing Stock Options Manager, Marie Roe.  Councillors learned that the Service Plans for the Regeneration and Economic Development (RED) had been completed by the Heads of Service.

Councillors were asked to note the number of empty properties being brought back into use was still below target with 12 being brought back into use in the period April to June 2012, below the target of 17 and the number of private rented sector properties being improved as a consequence of Local Authority intervention was 163, less than the previous year’s figure of 169.

Members noted that 9 actions from the Council Plan were behind target, with all those being under the remit of the RED Department.  Councillors learned that that additional level of detail with the Service Plans developed by the Heads of Service had resulted in revisions to timescales as set out within the report.  The Committee noted issues such as the planning application for the Police Headquarters site and the planning application for redevelopment at the former ice rink site at Freeman’s Reach, revised dates for the completion being March 2017 and December 2015 respectively, given more thorough and details plans for these schemes.  Councillors also noted that there were also revised dates for town centre sites, including Festival Walk at Spennymoor (September 2013), St. John’s Square at Seaham (December 2012) and Whitham Hall at Barnard Castle (September 2013).  The Performance and Planning Manager explained that the Local Transport Plan (LTP) capital schemes to improve accessibility between major towns had a revised date of March 2016 and the completion of public transport improvements along the 7 key transport corridors had been revised to March 2019.

Members noted that the scheme for expanding broadband connections in rural communities was being managed by the ICT Team and they had given a revised timescale of March 2016.

It was noted that the final action that was behind target was a European funded project targeting disadvantaged families that was scheduled for achieving target by December 2014, now delayed until March 2016.  Members noted that the training would be given to Officers from the Family Intervention Project, Family Wise and Housing Solutions sections as well as various professionals and partners across the region in order to deliver the employment support programme.

The Performance and Planning Manager explained that a key RED Service Plan action was to increase developer confidence in County Durham as regards development of non council owned sites and the management of council owned sites and property which was due for refresh in July 2012.  However, this has been delayed to late September 2012, with the Strategic Housing Assessment (SHA) to be completed shortly and the County Durham Plan (CDP) Preferred Options document having been reported to Cabinet and consultation ongoing.

Members noted the tracker indicator information as set out within the report with the main items being the increase in Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimants and the fall in the number of affordable homes being delivered.  Councillors were reminded that the Government had signed the deal for the high tech rail assembly plant at Newton Aycliffe with Hitachi, which would lead to a number of direct jobs, construction work and jobs within the supply chain.  It was added that the successful Lumiere event had been re-commissioned for 2013.

The Performance and Planning Manager asked Members to note that keys risks remained as loss of Area Based Grants (ABGs) and the impact should a programme of repairs to the Seaham North Dock Pier not be undertaken.

As regards the number of affordable homes being delivered, the Council’s Principal Policy Officer, Peter Ollivere noted that while the Authority may ask for 20-30% affordable housing within a scheme, with current market conditions it is becoming difficult for developers to be able to deliver schemes with affordable housing in those amounts.

The Chair thanked the Performance and Planning Manager for his presentation and asked Members for their questions.

Members noted issues as regards work on town centres and high streets and the park and ride scheme.  The Performance and Planning Manager explained that their were plans for regeneration for town centres, and specific high streets, however, their was little interest from the private sector, despite in several cases the physical appearance of “old” high streets having been improved, and in the cases where shopping areas were in private ownership.  Members wondered whether out of town shopping may be contributing to the demise of high streets, citing the figures within the report regarding the number of empty properties on the high streets.  In relation to the use of the number of passenger journeys recorded by the Park and Ride operator it was requested by Members as to whether a target could be set for this indicator and other tracker indicators.

The Performance and Planning Manager added that “tracker” indicators are for information generally and were an indication of the economy more generally rather than a specific target indicator.  Members learned that the Park and Ride figures may require seasonal adjustments and that those and information regarding town centres would be updated in the Quarter 2 performance report.

Resolved:    

(i)         That the report be noted.

(ii)        That the possibility of developing targets for appropriate tracker           indicators be further investigated.