Issue - meetings

Built Environment:Review of commissioned service

 

 

Meeting: 15/10/2013 - Cabinet (Item 5)

5 Built Environment:Review of commissioned service pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Report of the Cabinet Member Built Environment

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED THAT

 

  1. the progress made be noted;

 

  1. A stakeholder session be held to get feedback on how the service is performing;

 

  1. outstanding recommendations from the cabinet report in 2011 be progressed;

 

  1. further work be undertaken with partner councils to explore how built environment services can be delivered more cost effectively through collaborative working;

 

  1. Overview & Scrutiny review progress against the recommendations in six months’ time.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member Built Environment introduced the report which updated Cabinet on the first year of the service level agreement, to review progress on a series of Cabinet recommendations approved on 18 October 2011 and to outline how the service would be managed under the Cheltenham Futures change programme.

 

The Cabinet Member highlighted the range and depth of work which was undertaken by Built Environment ranging from the JCS and Cheltenham Plan, enforcement, Civic Pride, to business support and off street parking. He made reference to the fact that despite the changes the service had realised some successes which included planning income exceeding targets, increasing confidence in planning decision-making, particularly in relation to some notable major applications and progressing a number of flood mitigation schemes. In terms of key challenges ahead he referred to the JCS and the Cheltenham Plan and day to day planning and enforcement activities.

 

Members were encouraged by a positive report. The fact that planning income was increasing signalled that the Cheltenham economy was reviving.The comment was also made that as the number of planning appeals was below target this suggested that the council had a robust planning decision making process and the service was therefore delivering and performing well.

 

RESOLVED THAT

 

  1. the progress made be noted;

 

  1. A stakeholder session be held to get feedback on how the service is performing;

 

  1. outstanding recommendations from the cabinet report in 2011 be progressed;

 

  1. further work be undertaken with partner councils to explore how built environment services can be delivered more cost effectively through collaborative working;

 

  1. Overview & Scrutiny review progress against the recommendations in six months’ time.