Issue - meetings

A Performance Monitoring overview of the Portfolio is provided to each meeting of the Committee.

Members received the latest performance monitoring overview including performance indicators, targets, and a performance RAG status against each indicator. Where appropriate, quarterly performance data was also provided along with a year-end projection and a high/low assessment of good performance. Commentary against indicators provided further information as did previous performance against indicator targets.

On improving the street scene, attention was drawn to Indicators ES12 (streets meeting acceptable cleanliness) and ES13 (defect correction notices issued to the contractor). Noting actual 2017/18 performance for ES12 at 99%, and actual 2017/18 performance for ES13 at 2.35%, a Member compared this to a lower projected 2018/19 performance for ES12 at 94.73% and the issue of fewer defect correct notices to the contractor. The Member sought to understand why fewer defect notices should be issued against a lower projected cleanliness performance. 

In response, the Assistant Director of Environment indicated that the 2018/19 fall in performance is insufficient to reflect a C grade of cleanliness but is not good enough for a B grade. The Council’s own cleanliness standards are being reviewed (with the new contract) and neighbourhood officers are now more stringent in applying those standards. Rather than solely use national Code of Practice grades of cleanliness, L B Bromley will have its own standards – the national guidelines informing those standards. Standards have risen and training will be given to operatives, providing confidence that when a grading is made, it will be stringent. For the new contract from 1^st April, the Member explained that defects no longer apply and he suggested the revised L B Bromley standards should not fall below a B grade.

Concerning Indicator ES31 (Pay and Display machine maintenance – percentage of machine non-operational time during full period), an amber RAG performance status was showing with APCOA not projected to meet its target on pay and display machine non-operational time. An understanding was sought on the responsibility for a machine when it becomes too old and why APCOA continues to repair machines regularly falling into disrepair. Reference was also made to a study commissioned on the state of machines and feedback was requested on the outcomes. A KPI requiring a non-working machine to be repaired within a specific time frame can inadvertently cause problems and a contract change control notice might be needed to change the KPI. More reliable machines are needed across the borough. Non-working machines also incur additional costs against the parking budget e.g. non-receipt of income and officer time costs to look at the issues. APCOA performance last year needed improvement and although the contractor had recruited a new manager to help resolve issues, it was felt that charges should be escalated against the company for their performance on non-operational machines. ACPOA have responsibility for continued machine operation and the Council could not be open to continuing such service for the duration of the contract. The Chairman felt the Committee needed to review APCOA’s performance within the next year.

In response,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66