a) Major Contracts Task Group
Membership:Cllr Peter Doyle
Cllr Peter Colmer
Cllr Tom James
Cllr Nigel Carter
Cllr Mark Packard (replacing Cllr Brian Dalton who recently stood down from the Task Group).
The Task Group met on the 24 September to review the retendering of the Salisbury and Amesbury bus contract and then on the 12 October 2010 to carry out the annual review of Mouchel and Ringway. The main highlights of the discussions are below.
The next meeting of the Task Group is scheduled for the 15 November to review Hills Waste.
Retendering of the Salisbury and Amesbury Bus Contract
Members of the Task Group heard that the current contract is due to expire with the new arrangement in place by June 2011. Following discussion on the provision and actions officers are taking to retender this contract, the Task Group were supportive of their plans. It was highlighted that the need for added value and benchmarking against other providers was important to gaining value for money. It was also recommended that Officers should consider the excess capacity within the service and encourage greater use, particular reference was made to the tourism use, however it was acknowledged that responsibility lies with tourism providers to make these links.
Annual Review of Mouchel and Ringway
The council’s highways consultancy and works contracts were appointed in 2006, with responsibility for highways design falling to Mouchel and highway maintenance/improvement to Ringway.
Councillors were presented with the annual reports detailing the good performance against the contract specifications. In addition, they heard about the developments and pressures over the last twelve months, for example the particularly cold winter, the good work of Parish Stewards and an innovation forum. The Task Group highlighted that the innovation forum, which is designed to drive improvements and efficiencies, could benefit from early member involvement. It also felt that whilst last year saw an increase priority on road defects due to the harsh winter, a greater priority should be extended to footpaths in busy areas. It was also considered that although the Area Boards had helped Parish and Town Councils understand highways works, greater guidance could be given on the different work solutions and the indicative costs.
Recommendation
The Committee are asked to note the update.
b) Waste Task Group
A report by the Corporate Director, Department of Neighbourhood & Planning was presented to Cabinet on 19 October 2010 requesting approval to implement new, harmonised waste and recycling collection services across the County. A copy of the report can be found here.
The Committee is asked to note that the recommendations contained within the report were approved by Cabinet.
c) Housing Commission Board
Status Report by:
Cllr Ian McLennan, Environment Select Committee’s appointed Councillor to the Wiltshire Council Housing Commission.
This report contains extracts from the report of Graham Hogg, Director of Housing, Wiltshire Council, to the Housing Commission Board, dated 28 September.
The Commission Board improvement plan contains 108 actions, these extend far beyond the areas highlighted by the Audit Commission. Progress is monitored and signed off when agreed by Tenants. To date, 56 tasks have been signed off as completed, 11 of which were Audit Commission tasks. 7 tasks are overdue, 2 of which are Audit Commission tasks. One failed task is Annual Staff appraisements, which will be completed during October. The other: ’Review the way in which occupational therapists (OTs) classify works in order to achieve the best system of prioritising cases’, is awaiting the OTs’. They have had the draft policy for some time. This is being chased but shows how other departments can hold up Housing progress. One area to keep an eye on is the ‘understaffing’ highlighted by Poole Housing, who consider themselves as a best practice role model. They advised that our Housing team is under strength. Whilst the team has been bolstered by a temporary influx of internal WC support, there are currently no plans to address the final numbers, until a review much later in the process.
Key Progress Areas
a. Voids (Empty council properties) - Good progress with days vacant reduced to 33 days. Staff training and procedure alterations will result in a dedicated Voids team.
b. Status survey - A postal survey of tenants shows an 88% satisfaction (half of tenants responded). Non respondees are being followed up by phone.
c. Customer satisfaction surveys - Uniform approach to surveying all our main activities including anti social behaviour and lettings
d. Debt policy - All department working together to finalise a coherent and practical policy.
e. IT - Poole Housing who are members of the board, are assisting greatly in demonstrating IT needs. Wiltshire Council needs to support a swift introduction, if any lasting improvement is to be made. Environment Select Committee to endorse.
f. Project Team (Internal) - This is now largely in place and requires support for its work to be meaningful.
g. Disabled access to premises and work place transformation November - Bourne Hill with others at Churchfields Depot later. Estate offices being upgraded and ready November. Housing Reception moved to Milford Street Endless Street closed to the public.
Minutes:
An update on the work of the Task Groups and Project Boards with scrutiny representation was provided with the Agenda. The following additional information was provided:
Waste Task Group
A report by the Corporate Director Department of Neighbourhood and Planning to implement new, harmonised waste and recycling collection services across the County was considered by Cabinet on 19 October 2010.
The Committee noted that the recommendations made within the report were approved by Cabinet.
Housing Commission Board
The update provided was noted with the following amendment:
Key Progress Area – Item (e) should read ‘the Environment Select Committee to note’ and not ‘to endorse’ as written.