(1)

its work programme subject to the inclusion of the following items –

?

Transformation Programme (Budget Scrutiny recommendation10)

?

Flood protection (Budget Scrutiny recommendation 15)

?

Review of staff engagement and negotiation (Budget Scrutiny recommendation 17)

?

Fairer Charging

(2)

the work programmes of the Ambitious Plymouth Panel and the Caring Plymouth Panel;

(3)

that a meeting is arranged between the Chairs of the Ambitious Plymouth and Caring Plymouth Panels to consider which panel was best suited to consider the additional work programme item relating to the ‘healthy child quality mark scheme’;

(4)

the work programme for the Working Plymouth Panel subject to the inclusion of the Local Economic Strategy at its meeting scheduled for 5 March 2014.

(a)

the quarter three report outlined progress and emerging trends against key actions and the supporting performance measures;

(b)

the majority of the Corporate Plan Key Actions remained on target to achieve their milestones, so that outcomes would be completed by the end of 2016/17;

(c)

there had been a decrease in the number of Key Actions on target which had resulted in an increase in the number not on target (in most cases action plans for the Key Actions were fully operational;

(d)

of the 42 Key Actions -

?

six (on target to achieve outcome)

?

34 (on target to achieve outcome)

?

two (outcome at risk but mitigation in place)

(e)

of the 25 performance measures tracking outcomes of the Corporate Plan, the majority were performing well; performance had improved compared to previous quarters, although new measures had been added;

(f)

of the performance measures -

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15 (meeting target – good performance)

?

seven (below target but above  intervention level)

?

one (below target and intervention level)

?

two (uncoded  measure under development/no target)

(g)

further information on Key Action 40 ‘develop a proactive approach to lobbying Government, working with the LEP and neighbouring authorities’ would be provided to the next Board meeting;

(h)

Key Actions marked as ‘red’ in the report were continually monitored by the Assistant Directors, raised at team meetings and scrutinised by the Corporate Management Team;

(i)

with regard to -

?

P19’ children’s safeguarding timing of core assessments’; this target was ‘amber’ as there had been an unanticipated increase in demand for children requiring assessments and was also due in part to the availability of social workers; in the second quarter more capacity had been dedicated to this issue and the backlog of cases had been cleared;

?

P17 ‘ percent of residents who believed they can influence decisions affecting their local area’; historically this measure had been very low achieving 19 percent during the last Place Survey, which was a reduction from 24 percent; work was currently taken place focusing on community engagement (action plans were being created and it was therefore expected that future performance for this measure would improve);

?

P18 ‘reduce the gap between the worst 10 neighbourhoods and city average rate per 1000 population for overall crime’; the target was ‘amber’ as it was largely due to an increase in less serious violence, other theft and shoplifting; in recent months the gap had closed slightly with partnership activities appearing to impact positively on the overall crime levels; the launch of the ‘Community Action Against Crime’ small grant fund and shoplifting action plan should result in a positive impact on this target.

(a)

the revenue forecast year end overspend was £0.993m which represented an improvement of £0.529m compared to September 2013;

(b)

the current estimated position showed an overspend as follows –

?

£0.956m in the People Directorate;

?

£0.119m in the Place Directorate;

(c)

the current estimated position showed an underspend as follows-

?

£(0.006)m in Corporate Services;

?

£(0.076)m in corporate items;

(d)

there was a forecast net spend of £213.553m against a budget of £212.560m which was a variance of 0.5 percent, although officers and members were working on actions to deliver a balanced outturn;

(e)

following the approval of new schemes, re-profiling and variations, the capital programme had increased to £162.484m as at the end of September 2013;

(f)

the latest forecast at the end of December 2013 was £158.956m which included virements approved at Council in December 2013, other delegated officer approvals and assumed the approval of the recommendations for new schemes.

(g)

in setting the target for the recovery of council tax, an assumption was made that 100 percent would not be achieved; historically the target had been set at 98.5 percent but had reduced to 97.5 percent due to the changes in the Council Tax Support Scheme;

(h)

clarification would be provided relating to the savings that would be achieved if the 131 voluntary release scheme applications were approved.

(1)

Scrutiny Recommendation (1) to investigate the feasibility of charging for parking at all three Park and Ride sites, with the intention of covering the operating costs of the site, is rejected for the following reasons -

(a)

the consequences of charging to park could put off current users of the service and lead them to seek alternatives which may be harmful to the city. These alternatives may include driving into the City Centre which would increase congestion and carbon emissions, or visitors to Plymouth could decide to travel elsewhere which would impact negatively on the local economy;

(b)

to give a clear message to current and potential users of the park and ride services that the Council is committed to encouraging people to use them through keeping it as straightforward as possible;

(2)

Scrutiny Recommendation (2) is accepted as amended and the park and ride departure charges, charges made to the bus operator, will be renegotiated with the intention of possible increases. The Council’s ambition is that any increase will not be passed onto passengers;

(3)

Scrutiny Recommendation (3) is accepted as amended and officers will investigate the feasibility for a new park and ride bus service to be introduced between Milehouse and Derriford Hospital;

(4)

Scrutiny Recommendation (4) is accepted as amended and the potential for increased operating hours will be explored on all park and ride bus services in order to accommodate the users of the service who take advantage of the late night shopping in the City Centre or for those who use the park and ride to visit patients at Derriford Hospital, bearing in mind that visiting hours are up to 8pm. If a subsidy is required for an enhancement to the PR3, the service for Derriford Hospital, the Council will approach the NHS Trust to require a financial contribution;

(5)

Scrutiny Recommendation (5) is accepted and improved journey planning and timetable information will be provided at each of the park and ride sites.