Agenda and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 27 November 2018 were accepted as a true record. An update on the matters arising from the meeting on the 27 November were included in the minutes. No further questions on the action points were raised.

The Service Manager – Neighbourhoods provided an overview of the Glendale Golf Annual report highlighting:

·         how the contract is monitored throughout the year

·         that golf is still in decline as a sport nationally

·         that the weather in the past twelve months has had a considerable effect on the golf course usage

·         an increase in non-golf activities such as party bookings and weddings

·         an increase in member satisfaction with the condition of the course and club house.

The Service Manager – Neighbourhoods introduced Tom Brooke from Glendale Golf and Luke Colaluca from Lex Leisure who jointly delivered a presentation to the Board summarising the performance of Edwalton Golf Course during 2018/19.

The presentation highlighted higher levels of customer satisfaction than in previous years as well as outlining an ambitious programme of developments for 2019/20 including a stronger relationship with the local leisure centres run by Lex Leisure, improved use of social media, developing a GP golf referral scheme, and member of the month awards.

The Chairman of the Board asked about the national decline in golf. Mr Brooke explained that in simple terms the industry built too many golf courses in the 1990’s in line with an increase in participation. However, modern time demands are different and in order to survive golf needs to become more family orientated.

Councillor Jeffreys questioned the very low numbers of female club members and asked what the management were doing to encourage more women. Mr Colaluca explained that the club was very aware of this issue and had developed a range of activities and incentives to encourage more female participation over the next twelve months. Councillor Plant congratulated Mr Brooke on the improvements made to the clubhouse and grounds over the last few years and enquired about peak times for course usage. Councillor Clarke questioned the decline in the foot golf figures and Mr Brook explained that whilst popular to start with foot golf had not proved to have any longevity on this site.

Councillor Walker asked for further clarification of what was being done to meet strategic objective 4 in the contract. Mr Colaluca updated the Board about the use of junior golf sessions, wee nippers, and the scrag golf sessions being held in Edwalton Primary School weekly.

Councillor Phillips questioned the reasons behind the drop in hygiene rating for the restaurant and was informed that both floor and ceiling defects were noted by the inspector. These were being rectified and a re-inspection would be requested shortly to bring to hygiene rating up to where it should be.   

The Chairman thanked Mr Brooke and Mr Colaluca for their presentation and for answering the Board’s questions and noted how pleasing it was that the facility was much improved on the past few years.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the performance of Glendale Golf Ltd and their sub-contractor, Lex Leisure, for the contract year 2018 as outlined in the report and the accompanying presentation be noted.

b)    data pertaining to strategic objective 4 to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

The Service Manager – Neighbourhoods provided an overview of the Streetwise contract highlighting:

·         the colourful summer bedding display in West Bridgford

·         the efficient removal of fly tipping despite an increase in cases

·         the illuminated Christmas trees in West Bridgford

·         the support of many large events in Rushcliffe.

The Service Manager – Neighbourhoods introduced John Scott-Lee, Managing Director of Streetwise, and Nigel Carter, Finance Director, who jointly delivered a presentation to the Board summarising the performance of Streetwise during 2018/19.

Mr Scott-Lee started by providing Members of the Board with some contextual information such as the number of square metres of open spaces maintained, the kilometres of roads swept and the tonnage of litter and fly-tipping removed each year, before outlining the company’s performance against its key measures for the last year.

Members of the Board were informed about key initiatives Streetwise had undertaken to develop the company in the past year including the multi-skilling of staff to give them the ability to address multiple problems in one visit. Other examples focused upon improving the local community including the introduction of a graffiti wall, village litter pickers, allotments, and Christmas collections.

Councillor Beardsall raised a question about the financial information contained in section 6.1 and Mr Burch explained that the increase included standard inflationary increases as well as additional sums to cover the increase in fly-tipping and additional land acquisitions that will need covering as part of the prime contract. Councillor Chewings enquired about the timescale for vacating the depot and was told that the company was aiming for September / October but no firm date had been set by the Council. The Executive Manager – Operations and Transformation explained to the Board that the Council had been successful in gaining external funding to develop the site which may need to be returned if certain conditions linked to redeveloping the site for housing have not been met by March 2020. In order to meet these requirements, it was planned that Streetwise should vacate by September.

Councillor Jeffreys asked if there were any laws pertaining to the number of dogs a single dog walker could walk. She passed on observations from her own ward. Mr Burch said that he did not know of any law relating to this matter but would look into it.

Questions about litter on the A52, detritus on the A453 and overflowing litter bins on the A6- outside Asda were directed at Mr Scott-Lee, who responded accordingly.

Councillor Walker questioned how the four street cleansing KPIs were calculated and Mr Burch informed the Board that these calculations were based on the old national indicator which graded 25m sections of road against four levels of cleanliness on a rolling schedule.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the performance of Streetwise Environmental Ltd for 2018/19 as outlined in this report  and the accompanying presentation be noted.

b)    information about dog walkers to be sought and reported back to the Board.

The Services Manager – Finance and Corporate Services provided a report which summarised the Council’s performance for Quarter 3 of 2018/19, containing tasks from the Corporate Strategy 2016-20, and the Corporate Performance Indicators. The Corporate Scorecard which included full information on performance was included as an appendix to the officer’s report. The progress of the exceptions reported in Quarter 1 and 2 was also reported. She also presented the results of the Council’s Residents’ Survey undertaken in the summer of 2018.

Councillor Beardsall questioned the target set for the percentage of residents who believed they could influence local decisions. He asked that an action to scrutinise the targets set for coming years be carried forward to the next meeting.

Councillor Plant questioned progress on the tasks relating to the fourth Trent crossing, the proposed Gamston housing development, the relocation of the RCVS, and the performance indicator relating to property income. After providing an update on each of the tasks, the Executive Manager – Operations and Transformation offered to provide a breakdown of the income indicator to split out gross and net income.

Councillor Plant praised the number of successful homelessness case prevented and further questioned the performance indicator relating to the Council’s incoming Section 106 funds.

Councillor Walker asked if 100% of the Councillors’ Community Grant had been spent now the deadline for spending in this year had passed. The Service Manager – Finance and Corporate Services reported that the final figures had not been reached yet but it was likely that between 60 and 70% had been spent which was comparable with previous years. Various members of the Board then raised questions about the Grant Scheme and were reminded that these needed to be raised at Member Development Group. 

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the progress of the Corporate Strategy be noted

b)    the progress of the identified exceptions be considered

c)    the results of the Residents’ Survey be noted

d)    Corporate Scorecard targets to be put forward as a possible item for Scrutiny during the next municipal year

e)    a breakdown of net and gross income generated by renting out property owned but not occupied by the Council to be provided to the Board

f)     further information about current S106 agreements including funding received and expected as well as trigger points be provide to the Board.