Agenda item

Report of the Partnerships and Performance Section Head.

The report provides the Panel with the relevant performance indicators for Quarter 1 2015/16.

The Partnerships and Performance Section Head introduced the Performance Report for quarter 1 2015/16.  She commented that quarter 1 provided the first point in the year for services to consider performance and address problems in order to ensure that service delivery remained on track for 2015/16.

She highlighted, in particular, the performance against target in household waste and recycling by Veolia (ES1 – ES5).  In ES1 and ES2 this reflected a change in the definition for the indicator, which made meaningful comparisons with previous years difficult.  In addition, in ES2, ES3, ES4 and ES5, targets had been affected by an exceptionally poor growing season in April – June, which had reduced green waste recycling and composting.

The Partnerships and Performance Section Head further reported that consideration was being given to changing the permitted levels of household waste around Christmas.

Councillor Joynes queried the absence of figures for indicators ES9 and ES10.  The Partnerships and Performance Section Head clarified that the figures for this year had been reported.  However figures had not been provided by Veolia for the same quarter last year and, therefore, comparisons were not available.

Introducing the new Corporate, Leisure & Community Client Section Head, there followed a discussion about the SLM contract.  The new Corporate, Leisure & Community Client Section Head had worked with SLM previously and had ideas about how to improve the reporting of information so that it was clear and consistent.  This would increase confidence in the results presented.

It was planned to undertake a dilapidation survey of the two leisure centres over the next 12 months in readiness for the re-tendering process for the contracts, which were due to end in two years and nine months.  The Corporate, Leisure & Community Client Section Head advised that other information could be gleaned from a report on a SLM leisure centre in Plymouth.  In addition, there was scope for regional comparisons with other councils in Hertfordshire.

Councillor Joynes raised concerns about the cancellation of classes and questioned whether this was due to staff being poorly remunerated.  The Corporate, Leisure & Community Client Section Head stated that staff were properly paid for their services.  Classes were required to be commercially viable and their provision was therefore responsive to demand. 

In a further question, Councillor Joynes asked whether schools were involved in decisions about the provision of different activities.  The Corporate, Leisure & Community Client Section Head confirmed that schools were involved, particularly through the schools partnership.  Moreover, SLM was very aware of the importance of the quality of sports provision for young people.

The Chair had concerns about staffing levels in the gym, which he felt were at times too low.  He had received complaints about people being in the gym with little or no supervision at the end of the day.  Councillor Joynes questioned whether this raised some safety issues, where heavy and complex equipment was being used.

In response, the Corporate, Leisure & Community Client Section Head said that he would investigate staffing levels across the day against SLM’s service level agreement and method statements.

Councillor Collett asked for an additional KPI to be considered to measure staff turnover levels at both leisure centres.  She too was aware of the frustration experienced by leisure centre users when classes were cancelled, sometimes at very short notice, because key individuals were no longer employed at the centre.

Moving on to the HQ Theatres, the Panel noted that a new, more diverse, programme of events was being promoted.  This reflected a change of management, which was also forging better links with Watford Palace Theatre.

The Chair thanked the officers for the report and responding to the Panel’s questions.

RESOLVED –

1. that the Panel note the performance report for quarter 1 2015/16

2. that the Panel’s requests for additional information be noted.

ACTION: Partnerships and Performance Section Head

·        to investigate staffing levels against SLM’s service level agreement and method statements

·        to add a new KPI to measure staff turnover levels at both leisure centres.