Agenda item

Report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Markets and Consumer Protection presenting the business plans for 2017/18 for the Department of Markets and Consumer Protection.

The Director highlighted that, in addition to the detailled Licensing Service business plan which Members would already be familiar with, all Committees were also being presented with a high-level overview of the departmental business plan for the first time this year.

A Member referred to the three headline ‘Ambitions’ set out within the Licensing Business Plan 2017-2020 and stated that he was disappointed to see that these were all internally focused. He commented that it would be useful to have some sort of outcome attached to the ambitions and stated that he had made this point in relation to previous Business Plans presented to the Committee. The Director responded by stating that he felt that the first ambition set out within the Plan (to provide  the fastest turnaround of uncontested applications of all London Licensing Authorities) was very clearly customer focused and based on outcome. He welcomed any detailled suggestions/wording that the Member might be able to propose to make this clearer.

In response to a question regarding how Members might be kept informed of progress against those issues raised within the Business Plan, the Director stated that he would expect to report back to this Committee on a quarterly basis on this matter.

A Member questioned progress against Performance Indicator 3 (PI3) within the report regarding applications for the annual Safety Thirst Award Scheme and enquired as to progress made against this PI to date. The Licensing Manager reported that a total of 400 premises had been targeted for applications this year. With regard to the number of premises successfully receiving a reward, the Licensing Manager reported that the aim was for this to increase year on year. It was hoped that the number would exceed 60 this year.

A Member questioned whether PI5 regarding the settlement of debts could be tightened to state that 100% of debt was to be settled within 90 days as opposed to 120. The Director reported that debt was not a particular problem for this Committee and that all Departments were required to follow Corporate Guidelines with regard to this.

A Member commented that PI1 was a good, externally focused outcome indicator. He questioned whether there was any way in which issues could be addressed sooner to prevent premises from entering the red or amber zone of the Traffic Light Scheme. Another Member commented that PI targets had to be realistic. She added that the matters causing premises to enter the red or amber zone were often unpredictable and therefore outside of Officers’ control.

With regard to PI4 and sickness absence, a Member commented that he would prefer to see this reworded to indicate that the level of overall sickness absence per person should be ‘within the Corporate average’ as opposed to setting out what might be perceived to be a ‘budget’ of 6 days per person. The Director commented that he was also bound by Corporate targets in this area.

Finally, the Town Clerk drew Members’ attention to the Draft Corporate Plan (2018-2023) appended to the report. The Town Clerk explained that this was very much an embryonic plan at this stage which would be submitted to all Grand Committees for initial comment. The Town Clerk also referenced recent and forthcoming sessions for both new and existing elected Members which would provide further opportunity to discuss the Plan.

The Town Clerk asked that Members pay particular attention to the twelve broad outcomes set out under the headings ‘People’, ‘Place’ and ‘Prosperity’. Members were informed that it was anticipated that the final Plan would be submitted to the Court of Common Council in March 2018.

RESOLVED – That, Members:

·        Approve the high level departmental business plan and detailed Licensing Service business plan for the Department of Markets and Consumer Protection, subject to the comments made today; and

·        Note the draft Corporate Plan 2018-23.