Agenda item

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment, which presented the Draft High-level Business Plan for the Environment Department for 2024/25.

An Officer stated that this was a top-level strategic plan. It presented an overview of the priority workstreams and how they would be progressed in 2024/25 and measured by key performance indicators. The plan showed how services aligned with and supported the Corporate Plan and other key strategies and policies. During the course of the year, services would align with the new Corporate Plan and with any new strategies and polices that were introduced, as appropriate. The Officer stated that the Committee would receive regular reports on the progress made against the workstreams and performance indicators in the plan.

A Member asked why the utilisation of electric vehicle parking chargers was so low and whether it was worth the investment. An Officer stated that 4.5% utilisation was the figure from 22/23 and this predated the opening of the rapid charging facility at Baynard House Car Park. Contractors had also been changed after concerns about underreporting and about some of the equipment. The 23/24 figures were therefore likely to be higher but there was a need to raise awareness, particularly of the Baynard House facility in relation to servicing vehicles that required a charge top-up.

A Member commented that it would be helpful the business plan to set out the changes in priorities from the previous plan, rather than just the statutory changes section on the first page.

A Member commented on there being 26.3km of Pedestrian Priority Streets and asked what proportion of the total number of streets this was and how the figure compared to previous years. An Officer stated that this was set out in the Transport Strategy and was monitored as a key performance indicator. The Officer would provide a written answer to the Member and would circulate the extract from the Transport Strategy. The Chairman requested that Officers include comparatives in future business plans.

In response to a Member’s question about why data was aggregated into one Environment Department, an Officer stated that the data was not broken down any further than to departmental level and to break it down further would identify individuals. She also stated that some divisions reported to more than one committee so to break it down to committee level would be difficult.

RESOLVED, that -

1.        The factors taken into consideration in compiling the Environment Department’s Business Plan be noted; and

2.        Subject to the incorporation of any changes sought by this Committee,

the Departmental Business Plan for 2024/25, covering the service areas for which the Planning and Transportation is responsible, be approved.