Agenda item

(a)       That the full set of immediate strategic priorities for recovery of the portfolio as set out in the report be agreed, together with the risk analysis and mitigating actions both live and planned; and

(b)       That a forward work programme for the Committee be rebuilt for the remainder of the 2020/21 Council year with recovery planning at its core.

The Chief Officer (Streetscene & Transportation) gave a presentation which provided background on risks had been identified.  Together with his Senior Management Team they had identified 47 different risks across Finance, Workforce, Property Assets, Governance/Legal, External Regulation, ICT & Systems, Service Delivery, Highway Policy, Fleet, Waste Strategy and Parking and Enforcement of which 2 had been closed but were reviewed weekly.  Moving into winter months new risks were emerging and would continue to be monitored. 

He provided further information on the following specific areas:-

Finance

ST09 – Market for resale of recycled material extremely volatile.  Reporting that there are huge swings in the prices they receive for plastic, paper and glass etc and unfortunately most of them are slipping creating a substantial pressure for business but also creating issues for staff in finding ready markets for the material. 

ST10a – Overall waste arising up by between 10 – 20% due in part to the number of people working from home, spending more time at home and not going on holidays resulting in waste not being taken elsewhere.  Tonnage is up which is  causing pressure in terms of additional gate fee but also more work for the staff when collecting waste on the side of the road.

Workforce

ST12 – Reduced numbers of frontline workers and contractors to deliver services safely due to increased sickness levels.

ST17a – Increased risk of ill health due to mental health and well-being, personal and/or family issues.

            Councillor Paul Shotton thanked Streetscene for returning to a more normal situation particularly on grass cutting in his area.  He advised that the Interim Supervisor had been in touch with Connah’s Quay Members to put forward their areas which were in need of a serious clean up similar to the one that happened in Shotton.

            Councillor Carolyn Thomas advised of a Recycling Campaign that Welsh Government were launching, working in partnership with Local Authorities called ‘Be Mighty Recycle Campaign’. She added there would be a lot of publicity about it to encourage people to recycle and get the rates back up again which would hopefully stop littering as well.

            The Chair asked a question about the second recommendation.  She questioned what would happen to everything else that would have been part of the Forward Work Programme.  The Head of Democratic Services advised that a member of his team had been identifying items which were in the Forward Work Programme of both the former Environment and Community and Enterprise Overview & Scrutiny Committees with regard to ongoing items which would be fed into the forward work programme for the Committee.  There would be an emphasis on recovery items but the forward work programme would also recognise that regular items do still need to come to Committee and also issues dealing with regulatory functions.

The Chief Executive added that thought was needed to be given about risks that the Chief Officer (Planning, Environment & Economy) and the Chief Officer (Streetscene & Transportation) had highlighted as they also figured in the immediate Forward Work Programme perhaps in a way they wouldn’t have done so before.  Also looking at current risks business continuity needed looking at for the winter as there could be a very challenging winter ahead.  Some services might have to take a step backwards to a partial delivery.

He advised that Special meetings were being set up for November specifically to deal with the budget.

            The recommendations in the report were proposed by Councillor Paul Shotton and seconded by Councillor Chris Dolphin.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the full set of immediate strategic priorities for recovery of the portfolio as set out in the report be agreed, together with the risk analysis and mitigating actions both live and planned; and

(b)       That a forward work programme for the Committee be rebuilt for the remainder of the 2020/21 Council year with recovery planning at its core.