Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Customers and Community, (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Customers and Community supplying Members with details of performance against targets set for 2017 / 18 and to ensure that progress was being achieved towards the corporate goals and the outcomes detailed in the Corporate Plan 2015 – 19 adopted by the Council in February 2015 and updated in April 2017.

Appendix 1 to the report detailed each of the corporate goals, with the activities aligned to this Committee highlighted.  A number of achievements made during 2017 were set out in the report along with complaints and compliments received.

A question was raised regarding whether there had been any change in the rate of people reporting crime through the desk service now offered by the Police at the Council office in comparison to when operated from the Police Station.  In response, the Community Safety Partnership Manager agreed to follow this up with Chief Inspector Ronnie Egan who had agreed at a recent Overview and Scrutiny Committee (meeting as the Crime and Disorder Committee) to provide some statistics on this.  It was clarified at this point that RAG stood for Responsible Authorities Group and Members were provided with further information regarding the work of this group.

Councillor R G Boyce declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item of business, specifically the Key Corporate Activity (KCA) regarding cooperating work with housing associations, as he was a member of an Almshouse Trust.

Councillor A S Fluker proposed that the KCA Coordinate work with housing associations and developers to provide affordable housing and meeting the identified requirements for older persons’ independent living within the District, be split into two.  This was to allow monitoring of the delivery of sociable and affordable housing and also monitoring of the provision of independent living.  He advised that he felt these were different and should be monitored separately as they were high risks to the Council.  In response the Director of Customers and Community advised that whilst this was possible the report related to the 2017 / 18 plan and he would look at what was being proposed for the 2018 / 19 plan.

A question was raised regarding assisting persons coming into the area to purchase properties and protecting properties such as listed buildings, the Chairman advised that empty homes was to be considered as an item of scrutiny by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

In response to a question regarding the number of empty homes in excess of five years, the Director of Customers and Community advised he would seek this information from the Strategic Housing Manager and circulate to Members accordingly.

Councillor Miss M R Lewis proposed that for those issues where additional information had been requested this be reported to the next meeting of the Committee.  This was agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)                 that the information set out in the report and appendix be noted;

(ii)               that the Key Corporate Activity - Coordinate work with housing associations and developers to provide affordable housing and meeting the identified requirements for older persons’ independent living within the District, be split into two Activities;

that information requested by Members (as detailed above) be reported to the next meeting of this Committee.