Agenda item

            The Board received a report of the Chief Executive which detailed the third quarter performance management reports on progress against service plan objectives and performance targets, performance trends/comparisons and factors affecting the services for:-

 

·         Economy, Enterprise and Property (Development and Investment)

·         Policy, Planning and Transportation Logistics and Transport Management and Building Control and Contaminated Land)

·         Environment and Regulatory (Waste and Environmental Improvement and Open Spaces)

·         Commissioning and Complex Care (Housing Strategy)

 

            In receiving the second quarterly monitoring reports, Councillor Hodgkinson submitted the following questions:

 

1. Page 58 Major Maintenance on SJB. I would like to know about the major maintenance work needed for the SJB, which would require it to be closed with Department for Transport agreement for 6-9 months when Mersey Gateway is open to traffic.

 

In response Officers advised that:

 

We are considering requesting the DfT to defer an element of the SJB Complex Major Maintenance Scheme grant funding they have awarded us (£18.6m over 5 years commencing 2011/12) to allow us to paint the high level elements of the SJB under a total closure.

 

We will have completed the side spans and lower arch areas but there are hugely expensive logistical difficulties associated with removing existing and applying new coatings at high level over 4 lanes of busy traffic on which we cannot apply lane restrictions. It becomes a much more cost effective solution if we can tackle this work under a total closure as it opens up the use of long reach mobile platforms for some of the steelwork and conventional scaffolding for the remainder. If we get the thumbs up from DfT it will maximise the amount of grant we can hand back to them in addition to the funding we can hand back for maintenance of the structures which have a limited future as they are part of a delinking proposal.

 

The idea was that there will be a period of time after opening of the MG when the modifications to the approaches and cross section of the SJB would be carried out under full closure and it would make sense to carry out the deferred maintenance work at the same time. Unfortunately the timing of this may be an issue as it would probably be in financial year 2016/17 (or 17/18?) whereas our 5 year Grant period expires in 15/16.

 

If this were to be accepted it would make sense for HBC to carry out the modifications to the approaches and cross section of the SJB outside the DBFO possibly as a hybrid contract including the high level painting, with a total SJB closure over a period of 6 to 9 months. However, one other sticking point is that there is no certainty that HBC would have the funding to complete this MG related work although we will make a case to DfT for substituting surplus bridge maintenance funding

 

2. Page 61 PPT LI 31 Do the number of local bus journeys originating in the Borough reflect the total up to the end of the third quarter, as in the previous performance indicator, or simply those for the third quarter? It is a steep drop in both cases.

 

In response Officers advised that:

 

The figure of 1.287m journeys relate to Quarter 3 only. Unfortunately this was an oversight as figures are normally reported on a cumulative basis for the period in question. As we have also now received confirmation from one bus operator as to the accuracy of data originally provided we can confirm that the cumulative total up to the Q3 period end is 4.510m journeys.

 

As reported the bus industry is facing its most difficult period with an increase in operating costs and a 20% reduction in Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) commencing in April 2012. In advance of this operators are presently seeking to balance operating costs and profit margins and this has resulted in some routes already being affected. Additionally the need for the Council to make continued efficiency savings has impacted upon the local bus budget which has had consequences upon the level of subsidy for services operated on behalf of the Council.

 

However Officers will continue to work closely with operators to ensure that as far as is possible any negative impact can be minimised

 

3. Pages 82& 83 Halton targets beyond 2010/11 are 700kg for residual household waste per household and 40% for percentage of household waste recycled and composted. It seems that these targets will be exceeded in 2011/12 which is a good performance. Will the targets for the later years be revised? If there is a slowdown in moving to fortnightly black bin collections, this improvement will not be maintained and resentment over the fortnightly black bin collections in participating wards will increase.

 

4. Page 99 What action is being taken to ensure that residents of Halton know that the level of waste produced by Halton households is one of the highest in the country?

 

In response to questions 3 and 4 Officers advised that:

 

Future recycling and waste production targets will be reviewed and, when being set, will reflect the waste and recycling collection service provision at that time. However, regardless of what targets are set, the intention will be to maximise recycling performance and exceed targets where possible.  The Alternate Bin Collection scheme will continue to be rolled out to suitable properties across Halton.

 

Over the past fortnight, the scheme has been extended to households within the Beechwood and Broadheath wards and plans are being drawn up to deliver the scheme in other areas of the borough. The introduction of the scheme to other areas will ensure on-going increases in recycling performance and a reduction in waste sent to landfill.

 

The Waste Division is planning a comprehensive publicity campaign, through the local press, to highlight issues around waste.  A particular focus of the campaign will be the high levels of waste produced by households in Halton.  The campaign will aim to encourage residents to think more about the waste they produce, to reduce it and then recycle as much of what they produce as possible.  An initial meeting has been held with a local newspaper to scope out the publicity campaign, which is due to commence in April.

 

            In addition, Councillor Thompson requested further information on:

 

• DIS LI07 – locations of the jobs that have been created i.e. their geographical location/distribution;
• where apprenticeships have been created geographically.
• how each Housing Association had allocated the ‘dowries’ received as part of the transfer from Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation.

 

            RESOLVED: That the third quarter performance management reports be received.