Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillor Lynne Allen. Councillor Lindsay Bliss attended in her place.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2009 were agreed as a correct record and signed by Chairman.

It was confirmed that all items of business would be considered in public.

Budget Report 2010/2011

The Head of Finance, in introducing the budget report, advised that the introductory statements of the budget reports were generic to both Planning & Community Services and Environment & Consumer Protection Services.

Outlining the reports, he explained the main financial issues, within the context of the Council’s overall financial position relating to the financial planning process for 2010/2011 for Planning and Community Services and Environment & Consumer Protection Services (ECP).

The Committee noted that the Council was well placed to deal with the challenges ahead and had exceeded the £12m target for balances by the end of 2009/10.

Members were asked to note the time table for the medium term financial forecast (MTFF) process timetable.

A member asked how financial pressures on the Government would impinge on homelessness and whether it would affect the percentage on care inflation.

Officers advised that financial pressures on the Government may impinge on homelessness through cuts in subsidies, and that the social care contract was built around inflation and some would be related to Retail Price Index as part of the figure.

The member requested officers to email further details in respect of funding for social care contract.

Officers highlighted that following the Service Review of Planning and Community Services group, £960k savings had been generated. It was noted that the key area of income streams were in Development Control and the fees for major applications.  However, with the current economic situation, this had become a most volatile area given the significant scale of fees and the limited volume of applications.

It was noted that the challenge for the group was to review, monitor and evaluate the key planning income streams. Areas such as Land Charges were now more tightly operated.

In response to a question raised about value for money not being mentioned in the report, officers advised that value for money was integral to the whole process. The balance between agency staff and permanent staff continued to be under review.

Quarterly Performance Information Report 2009

Officers presented the report to the Committee and the following points were made:

• That there were 13 targets in the LAA to be delivered by Planning and Community Services, which included affordable housing. These were all shown as completed at the end of quarter four and were accepted at the Cabinet meeting in April 2009.

• That value for money (£750k), with an overspend of 454k from the slippage in the assignment of the leisure contact for golf. All four tasks in the group’s plan to achieve ‘value for money’ had been reported as being either on track or completed.

• Members were advised that all the National Indicators (NI) directly relevant to the group for quarter 4 (Q4) had been completed. It was noted that some targets had not yet been set as they were new and had had no previous data against which performance could be measured.

• Officers highlighted that the results achieved in respect of NI157 – was an indication that the Council was not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Budget Report 2010/2011

The Head of finance presented the report and pointed Members to the summary of the key financial issues.

It was noted that there were 4 Zero Based Budget (ZBB) review areas which the department would be focusing on, and they were:

• Consumer Protection - It was that this was a high spend area for the group, and the focus would be on the wider impact of the Council’s successful recycling initiatives.

• Highway & Green Spaces - Members noted that £2.5m had been spent on highway maintenance and the review would ensure that external funding opportunities and S106 funds were maximised.

• Business Services – It was noted that £4m per annum had been spent on fleet vehicles with £780k on fuel at per annum. With the fuel being a volatile area due to the prices of diesel, the review would look at the procurement in the purchase of diesel.

• Income Generation – Members noted that the review in this area would look at how the Borough compared with other boroughs. Following a challenge session, a report would be submitted to Cabinet in December 2009.

The following questions and points were raised by the Councillors:

The Chairman questioned how officers would generate income, given the Council’s desire to keep costs low.

Councillor Markham commented that the Council was already three months into the financial year and officers would need to look at measures already in place, managing and monitoring very closely.

Officers advised that no decisions had been made, except to look robustly at better ways of providing services and look for efficiencies in high income generating areas.

In response to comments made, it was noted that work was underway through bench marking to compare against other local authorities. In addition, a corporate grant funding software was now in place, which would assist in applying for more funding.

The Director of Environment and Consumer Protection added that the focus would be on areas which created best opportunities and that this would be an ongoing process for next year and subsequent years.

Quarterly Performance Information Report 2009

Officers brought Members’ attention to the following areas of performance:

·        Members’ enquiries - 96.5% had been answered within 10 working days. It was noted that the improvement was due to a vacant post now being filled.

·        All 15 targets in the Local Area Agreement (LAA) to be delivered by the department were shown as being on track at the end of quarter four.

·        The department was working closely with Hillingdon Homes to extend estate based recycling facilities.

·        Phase1 of town centre improvement had been completed.

·         Four additional Green Flags had been award bringing the total to 10, which exceeded the 9 required to meet the LAA target.

A ‘Place Survey’ had been introduced in early October 2008 as part of the new Comprehensive Area Assessment. Feedback from this survey would be reported to the next meeting for information.

• There had been some minor slippages on 2008/09 Transport for London (TfL) 20mph  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

It was noted that the update on School Travel Plan would be reported to the meeting on 8 September 2009.

Resolved that :

1.                  A revised scoping report on Street Lighting including detailed breakdown of budget to be reported to the meeting on 15^th September 2009

2.                  Relevant officers, including a Street lighting officer from a neighbouring borough be invited witnesses to the meeting on 15^th September 2009

3.                  An update on School Travel Plan to be reported to the meeting on 15^th September 2009

4.                  That the Work Programme for 2009/10 be agreed

Draft Scoping Reports for Review in 2009/10

Appendix A - Zero Tolerance for Anti-Social Behaviour: Hillingdon’s Role

Mick Dunkley introduce the report and explained that nuisance from a neighbour may be classed as anti-social. He advised that however, such nuisance would not be classed as anti-social behaviour in the Community Safety Team.  

It was noted that the statistics on the Metropolitan Police website showed Hillingdon with the best results in dealing with anti-social behaviour.

The Chairman asked whether the new youth centres had had any effects in reducing the level of anti-social behaviour.

Mick Dunkley responded that whilst there had been a noticeable change in groups of youths hanging around street corners, there had been no effect in the level of serious anti-social behaviour. To ordinary residents, anti-social behaviour would be greatly dependent on their perception.

In response to a question as to whether there had been a reduction in knife crimes in Hillingdon. Members were advised that knife crime in Hillingdon was so low; it would be very hard to measure. Three knife bins had been placed around the Borough and positioning of the knife bins were now intelligence led.

In answer to a question about the effect of anti-social behaviour on other services such as housing, Members were informed that in finding a satisfactory resolution would be dependent on individual situations. For example, if people were being extremely anti-social to their neighbour, they would be moved but would need to be re-housed elsewhere. It was noted also, for example, it would be difficult to deal with someone suffering from mental health, but posed no danger to anyone.

Following a question as to whether there were policies in place to deal with this issue. Members were informed that there were policies in place within various departments and it was confirmed that the Community Safety Team worked closely in partnership with other departments.

Work with the Early Intervention Panel and Parenting partnership were noted as areas with which the Community Safety Team worked closely.  It was noted that officers regularly attended monthly the London wide monthly meetings and worked closely with the Hillingdon Anti-Social Behaviour Team.

In answer to a question, Members were advised whilst anti-social behaviour was worst (more widely known) in the South of the borough, more complaints were received from the north of the borough.

Councillor Janet Duncan expressed concerns about an area in Hayes where drug dealing took place  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Committee discussed and noted the items on the Forward Plan. Members were keen to see how the Council would deal with gritting in the winter and requested a briefing note to be circulation in respect of the item on Winter Service Plan.

RESLOVED – That the reports going to Cabinet on 24 September 2009 be noted

The meeting closed at 9.30pm