Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

Councillor R Blunt presented the report to members, outlining the key highlights in performance from the previous year.

Councillor M B Wyatt expressed concerns in respect of the reference to the management of leisure services and sought clarity on the scope of that reference. 

Councillor K Merrie commended the report and the focus on businesses and jobs.  He made reference to the industrial development in Ellistown and the   woodland park which had received a national award.  

Councillor N Smith welcomed the heritage aspects of the report and the promotion of Coalville.

Councillor J Clarke welcomed the Green Footprints section of the report and the free trees and bulbs given away which he would like to see increased.  He commented however that litter remained a major problem.

Councillor J Bridges made reference to the LEAP programme case study highlighted in the report and recalled the pride he felt meeting Mr Pollard and hearing his story. 

Councillor T Eynon commented that the document really sold the Council as good value.  She expressed disappointment that the document had not been considered by scrutiny.  She requested that a functioning scrutiny system be put in place to enable members to wholeheartedly support documents such as this.

Councillor J Geary welcomed the private sector housing stock survey as he felt it was important to understand the condition of all housing stock.  He thanked the Council for taking this initiative.  He made reference to the scheme to replace solid fuel heating in non-gas areas and he hoped the advice would be made available to the private sector once the best solution was known.

Councillor M Specht welcomed the celebration of volunteers event and clarified that there were far more than 90 volunteers in the district.

Councillor R D Bayliss highlighted the ongoing work in respect of the decent homes programme and the high rates of tenant satisfaction.  He also made reference to the excellent work of the Tenant Scrutiny Panel, the high rate of rent collection and the reduction in the re-let time of empty properties. 

Councillor J Legrys commented that he would have liked to have seen a significant improvement in the housing repairs service demonstrated in this document.  He highlighted that the business photographed in the document in respect of the shop fronts scheme had subsequently closed.  He commented that there had been a lot of effort put into bringing jobs into the town which many people could not access due to a lack of public transport.  He stated that he would have preferred a focus on where things could have been done better and some comment on engagement with the community and elected members of all levels.  He referred to recent comments made in relation to poor Council Tax collection rates and added that he would have liked to have seen some statistics on this issue. 

Councillor R Ashman commended the report. He welcomed the focus on value for money.  He commented that in his experience the housing department was very responsive and he  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27