Agenda item

The Transformation Team Manager presented a report on the Council’s performance against the targets set in the 2014/15 Annual Plan. She noted that the Council had met 83% of Corporate Key Priorities and 91% of all service milestones, with 85% of performance indicators having reached or exceeded their targets.

The Council’s Key Priorities were:

1.    To deliver an improved Camberley Town Centre for the benefit of the Borough;

2.    Working with partners to make Camberley a destination of choice with improved transport in the Borough;

3.    Securing the future of local public services in Surrey Heath through a variety of strategies; and

4.    Delivering with partners the sustainable Community Strategy priority action plans to improve community safety, transport, health, children and young people and economic wellbeing.

Although the Council had reached or exceeded many targets, some, such as developing Camberley Rail Station or the Library, which involved or were in the ownership of other organisations, had to be aspirational.

Whilst recognising that where targets were easily achieved, this could be because more stretching targets were needed, members were informed that the Transformation Team acted in the challenger role to push targets. Some of the targets, notably in digital communication, were probably unrealistically high and would need to be re-assessed.

During consideration, Members raised the following:

(i)               Benchmarking – Consideration should be given to benchmarking, both against like organisations and in terms of residents’ levels of satisfaction. In terms of the Contact Centre targets and in particular, the red areas, the Corporate Portfolio Holder would be asked to address these in her presentation to the Committee’s 2 December 2015 meeting.

(ii)              Transport – There was a need to maintain pressure on Network Rail for more direct fast trains from Camberley to London. However, Members also recognised that improving transport links extended beyond rail services and the Town Centre. It was suggested that the targets should be expanded to include improved links from the Villages. The Regulatory Portfolio Holder would attend the Committee’s next meeting, on 29 July 2015.

(iii)             Web Site – It was noted that free web management software had been used as part of the ongoing upgrade to the Council’s web pages. Members sought a breakdown of the overall costs of the recent upgrade.

(iv)            Car Parks – Members reported a lack of reliability in the current car park payment packages in Camberley Town Centre and noted a query on the town centric focus to the exclusion of the rest of the Borough. This would be raised with the Business Portfolio Holder at the Committee’s 27 January 2016 meeting.

(v)             Leisure Leases – Members requested an e-mailed update on outstanding leisure leases.

(vi)            Waste Collection - The Joint Waste Project involved this and 4 other Councils with contracts due to end in similar timescales, tendering with a view to achieving significant economies of scale. Consideration was being given to issuing a 10 year contract with a clause for a possible further 5 years. The Community Portfolio Holder would be invited to attend the meeting on 30 September 2015.

(vii)           Finance – Members welcomed the changes in the investment strategy to allow greater scope for placement of investments, including into property, but noted a request for more quantifiable targets. The Finance Portfolio Holder and the Council Leader would attend the Committee’s 23 March 2016 meeting.

(viii)          Community Events – Members welcomed the success of the recent Engagement Event covering Bisley and West End, organised by the Surrey Heath Partnership. A further event was planned for later in the year, though the venue had still to be clarified.

(ix)            Targets - The Committee requested further information on those performance indicators which had missed predetermined deadlines and why.

Resolved, that the report be noted and

(i)            electronic updates be provided on performance indicators which have missed predetermined deadlines; and

(ii)          Portfolio Holders be asked to address the points raised above during their presentations to future meetings, including the reasoning behind any deadlines missed.