Agenda item

Report of the Leader (20 mins)

The Policy and Partnerships Manager introduced the report and invited questions.

Members welcomed the improved format of the report and felt it was now pitched at the right level. Generally it demonstrated a very positive performance and gave reasons for why performance had gone up as well as down.

There was some discussion regarding visitor numbers to the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) going down and why the number of accommodation bookings made through the TIC had also decreased. A member suggested that this could be explained by more people accessing the web site for information which did not currently have an accommodation booking facility.

The Leader advised that the TIC did receive a commission from any bookings they made so this would be an issue to monitor, particularly when the TIC moved to the Art Gallery and Museum.

In response to a question regarding the delay to the St Paul’s regeneration project reported in paragraph 3.1, the Leader advised that Gloucestershire Highways were notified of the need for road closures but subsequently couldn’t do the work in the timescales they had previously agreed with the council.

A member asked whether the Leader could confirm that the take-up of the green waste scheme would enable the 40% target for household waste recycling to be achieved. The Leader advised that the Q1 figures were still awaited but he expected that target to be achieved.

A member commented that the absolute figures quoted for reduction in carbon emissions did not give members a view on their significance. The Policy and Partnership Manager agreed to supply more information on the figures.

A question was asked about the absence level in the Operations area and the main reason being musculoskeletal, whether the workforce profile (age) might be an issue. The Director People, Organisational Development and Change advised there were a number of factors, including the demanding physical nature of work. Around 50% of workers in that area were over 45years of age.  The absence issue was being addressed through a specific action plan currently under development. 

Members requested more information on the targets for the number of apprentices on placement with the council.

The Director Organisational Development and Change advised that the council had a very positive approach to placing apprentices and this was an ongoing process as vacancies occurred. Two apprentices had decided to leave for other opportunities and for personal reasons. The “recruitment challenge” referred to a process whereby the Executive Board had challenged the need for any recruitment and this was now being operated by Directors.       

In response to a question about how the number of incidents of domestic violence were collated and how the council could have an impact, the Policy and Partnership Manager advised that the police collated the figures. He acknowledged that it was not related to the core business of the council however the council were part of the Crime and Disorder partnership which focused on interventions. The indicator for repeat incidents was considered to be a test of how successful any interventions had been.

The chair thanked officers for their input and looked forward to a similar concise report at a future meeting.