Issue - meetings

To consider the mid-year performance for Environment and Neighbourhood Services.

Paul Bayley introduced the item to the Committee.  Heads of Service: Tracey Bettany, Chris Allman, Ralph Kemp and  David Malcolm attended the meeting to answer any service specific questions the Committee may have had.  Jayne Traverse the newly appointed Executive Director of Place also attended the meeting to meet the Committee and comment on work streams and future vision for the Place directorate.

The performance review covered the first half of 2021-2022, Paul noted the challenges to services that included the response to the Covid 19 pandemic as some parts of the service were impacted by government restrictions or were involved in helping with the response.

·         There had been an Increase in demand as a direct cause of pandemic such as noise complaints, animal health and welfare- dog care breeding and dog kennelling and ASB following lifting of restrictions.

·         Libraries and leisure centres were restricted in their activities until 19^th July 2021.

·         In April- Council approved Part 2 of the Local Plan.  Three weeks of virtual examination hearings were held from mid-October.

·         Cleaner Crewe project- six alleyways were cleaned and enhanced with plants and art work.

·         The refurbishment and redevelopment of Nantwich and Congleton Leisure centres was in progress.

·         There had been pressure on the waste collection service due to increased tonnages of waste collected as a result of the increase of those working from home and the service had not seen a reduction to date although the recycling rates had maintained encouragingly high.

·         There had been disruption due to staff absences to waste rounds, and a shortage of agency HGV drivers to provide cover.

·         Planning had received an increase in smaller household applications but pressure was also attributed to the service from a shortage of staff.  The council had procured support from an external provider and were actively recruiting to fill vacancies on a long-term basis.

Jayne advised the Committee that with regard to the planning service, a deep-dive review was being scheduled with a broad scope that included enforcement.  Jayne was mindful that planning staff were under considerable pressure and that the challenge to deal with the application backlog was a key part of the review. 

It was proposed that a Member Advisory Panel be convened to assist the work Jayne was suggesting, the Committee agreed with this proposal.

Paul went back to the planning question by Sue Helliwell under agenda item 4, public speaking.  The council aimed to decide planning applications in 8 weeks, but larger applications can take up to 13 weeks; if a determination cannot be given in those time scales, the council must obtain written consent from the applicant to extend the time scale or if that cannot be agreed the applicant can appeal to the Secretary of State.  In the first half of 2021-2022, 95% of major applications were determined within the agreed time and 83% of non-major applications.  In the last 12-months, 13 appeals have been submitted on the basis of non-determination within the agreed time, of which three were upheld  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27