Agenda item

PROVISIONAL OUTTURN 2018/19

Minutes:

Report FSD19052

 

The Portfolio Holder was asked to endorse the 2018/19 provisional outturn position for the Environment & Community Services Portfolio - the provisional final outturn showing an under-spend of £1.355m for 2018/19 against a controllable budget of £29.847m, representing a 4.5% variation. Excluding a carry forward net sum of £120k, the under-spend amounts to £1.235m.  Variations were summarised in Report FSD 19052 with further details appended to the report.

 

The Portfolio Holder was also asked to approve draw-down of the £120k carry forward sum held in central contingency. This sum relates to development of a payment system for the Green Garden Waste service in 2019/20 (delayed due to mobilisation of the Environmental contracts).

 

A £378k shortfall in Parking Enforcement income (due to fewer parking contraventions) was partly offset by contract performance deductions of £113k (and a £24k under-spend for credit card charges and electronic appeal costs). The contract performance deductions related to a large default for poor on-street enforcement performance linked to the PCN issue rate. Officers were however in contact with APCOA concerning CEO deployment so that CEOs can be arranged across the borough in the best possible way and an update will be provided at the Committee’s next meeting. 

 

Although default notices had been issued to APCOA for their past year performance, it was highlighted that the Council is also losing income which could be more than the value of default income received. Although there were good reasons initially to make allowances for a new contract, the current position had now continued for too long. However, should conditions for issuing default notices and the penalty payments be too high in a contract, the Portfolio Holder indicated that this would not attract potential contractors. Contract monitoring should instead take place regularly and where a contractor fails to achieve its targets, regular meetings would be held which is the case with APCOA. The contractor should always be held accountable. 

 

The Vice-Chairman referred to dissatisfaction amongst his ward residents to an apparent low level of PCNs being issued for parking infringements. This also amounted to lost income for the Council and it is necessary to ensure a higher performance from ACPOA in this regard. 

 

A £94k decline in on-street parking income appeared more rapid than the level of reduced income for off-street parking at £27k; however, some machines were out of action and officers are working with APCOA to try and improve the position. It was also explained that advertisements on the reverse of parking tickets no longer became viable although it is something officers would be prepared to look at again. Alternatively, it was suggested that a road safety message could be included on the reverse of parking tickets.

 

Concerning income from highway repairs as a result of utility works, some of the work can be non-planned emergency works. There might also be defects with the repairs or the works might overrun. Prescribed rates for charges that local authorities can levy against utility companies in various circumstances are set by Government. L B Bromley has a high level of income from action against utility companies for defective repairs.

 

Concerning fly-tipping, it was confirmed there is no direct correlation between lower trade waste tonnage and fly-tipping.

 

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to: 

 

(1)  endorse the 2018/19 provisional outturn position for the Environment and Community Services Portfolio; and

 

(2)  approve drawdown of the £120k carry forward sum held in the Central Contingency, as detailed at para 6.4 of Report FSD19052. 

 

Supporting documents: