Agenda item

The report of the Chief Executive is attached.

It was RESOLVED that Cabinet accepts the Streetwise Annual Report 2021/22 and notes the comments made by the Governance Scrutiny Group.

The Leader, Councillor Robinson, presented the report of the Chief Executive detailing the Streetwise Annual Report.

Councillor Robinson advised that this report looked retrospectively, within the context of the Streetwise service moving back in-house in September 2022, and how the service had coped with the effects of the Covid pandemic.  Cabinet noted that the report had been considered by the Governance Scrutiny Group on 1 November, and whilst the Group was satisfied with the report, it had raised some points detailed at paragraph 4.4 of the report.

Councillor Robinson referred to Appendix C to the report and advised that this looked at performance, the impact of Covid and the significant loss of the Metropolitan Housing contract, whilst also highlighting the increasing business outside of the contract.  Cabinet noted that the report reflected performance across Community Development, Neighbourhoods, Events and Grounds Maintenance, and showed a mixed performance, although that had to be taken in context in respect of the pandemic and the competitive markets.     

Councillor Robinson remarked that it was pleasing to see that Streetwise had continued to improve its environmental credentials in line with the Council’s Carbon Reduction Plan by the renewal and updating of the fleet to use low emission fuels and supporting community groups.  

In respect of finance, there had been a decrease in revenue of 9.7%, which reflected the loss of the Metropolitan Housing contract, and it also reflected the competitiveness of the market and the effect of the pandemic.  Councillor Robinson advised that Streetwise had been profitable for eight years, which when taken into context against other authorities, was particularly good, and at the end of March 2022, it had nearly £500k, which he considered to be a testament to the management team and staff.

Councillor Robinson concluded by reminding Cabinet that as Streetwise was now back in-house, it was being covered by different scrutiny processes, as referred to in the report.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Inglis endorsed the previous comments and advised that the signed off accounts for previous years provided a base comparison for the in-house absorption of Streetwise back into the Council’s management.  He stated that it was not just about turnover, rather it was the end of year profits that were important, and there had already been changes to enhance those profits, and work was commencing into securing new and viable contracts to provide a quality, enhanced service, with a focused dedication to all of Rushcliffe.

Councillor Inglis concluded by advising that he was confident in the new management, procedures, and the positive staff engagement and that appropriate oversight would be undertaken by the Governance Scrutiny Group.

Councillor Upton advised that he had always found Streetwise staff to be incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, with good customer care, and he had never heard any criticism of their work and by keeping areas clean, graffiti and litter free that meant a great deal to local residents. 

Councillor Robinson agreed that this formed an important element of Rushcliffe’s quality of life and Streetwise and its management team had provided an excellent service and should be commended for that work over the years, and following its return in-house, he hoped to see increased performance around the Rushcliffe contract. 

It was RESOLVED that Cabinet accepts the Streetwise Annual Report 2021/22 and notes the comments made by the Governance Scrutiny Group.