Agenda item

This report summarises the performance of the Council’s Key Measures of Success for July – September (Quarter 2) 2013/14 as set out in The Council Plan 2013/15. 

Discussion:

The Committee received a report setting out the second quarter performance for the months of July – September 2013.

The Assistant Director – Front Line Services reported that in Quarter 2, out of  25 Council Plan key measures of success, 20 had been on target or exceeded target. In addition, he advised that 12 out of 24 key measures of success had improved over the short term and 14 out of 24 key measures of success had improved over the long term..

The Committee discussed the following areas:

• Pavement maintenance/repairs in the Conservation Area of High Street between the town centres of Rochester and Chatham

The Assistant Director – Front Line Services confirmed that information was currently awaited from the Conservation Officer and a draft document would shortly be submitted to the Regeneration, Community and Culture Management Team for consideration.

Members requested that they be provided with a defined timescale for these works.

• “No Cold Calling Home” – Linking in with Neighbourhood Watch

The Assistant Director – Front Line Services advised that since being introduced by the Trading Standards Institute, two zones had been introduced in Medway in the centre of Strood and at residential accommodation near Brompton Barracks.

He advised that the Council received a number of enquiries about this scheme from residents and the Council worked closely with the Police in this respect. He advised that the Council would also take on board the suggestion that information be shared with Neighbourhood Watch Groups.

The Head of Safer Communities advised the Committee that the legality of the “No Cold Calling Home” scheme was currently the subject of concern by the travelling community and therefore this would need to be monitored.

• The number of Fixed Penalty Notices paid

The Assistant Director – Front Line Services confirmed that 75% of fixed penalty notices were normally paid and he referred to the increasing number of successful prosecutions by the Council, including those for the non payment of fixed penalty notices. He advised that Medway had the highest rate of prosecutions than any other local authority in Kent.

• Flytipping

In response to concerns regarding whether dumped rubbish was flytipped or rubbish that had been put out by residents too early, the Assistant Director – Front Line Services advised that the Council had a specific caged vehicle used to respond to calls relating to dumped rubbish and this avoided delays in having the rubbish removed. In the first month of its use the service had received 300 enquiries and 75% of flytipped rubbish had been removed onspot.

• Chatham Waterfront Bus Station

It was noted that the proposal to provide the sale of hot drinks and cold food to bus passengers had now been withdrawn at the location originally considered pending a new location.

• Smart Ticketing

In response to questions regarding the proposed use of smart ticketing for bus journeys and in car parks, the Head of Integrated Transport advised that the technology was moving fast and Transport for London were now looking to upgrade its existing Oyster scheme.

Arriva and Kent County Council were currently looking to pilot a system in Maidstone and, if successful, the scheme would be rolled out for use elsewhere. It was stressed that the scheme would be operated by the bus operator and would not require funding from the Council.

Members expressed concern that even if the Oyster scheme was soon to be replaced, it would make sense to encourage the use of this scheme in Kent and Medway so that users had one universal scheme across the whole of the South East.

The Assistant Director – Front Line Services pointed out that the provision of a smart ticketing system would be a tripartite arrangement and that it would be better to have the same system operated by Arriva and NuVenture. He confirmed that he would take members views forward in an attempt to influence the smart system selected but stressed the benefit of Medway having the same system that would be selected by bus operators for use in both Kent and Medway. He agreed to provide a briefing note on this matter.

Decision: 

The report on the second quarter performance against key measures of success used to monitor progress against the Council Plan 2013/15 be noted subject to the following:

a)     A briefing note be provided on the maintenance schedule for pavements in River Ward

b)     A report or briefing note be provided on the smart ticketing system for use on public transport and in car parks in Medway.

c)      It be noted that paragraph 5.5 of the report has been amended to take account that the proposal to provide the sale of hot drinks and cold food to bus passengers had now been withdrawn.