Issue - meetings

To note the Place Performance Report for 2015-16 Q4.  The report and appendices are a summary of the main areas of progress towards the delivery of the Corporate Plan 2014-17. 

The quarter four Performance Report for the Place Directorate was presented to the Commission. 

An overview was presented and the following points were raised:

-          ‘Building Successful Places’ worked with developers through the planning system to encourage the adoption of affordable homes.  Subsidy levels that were able to be applied had massively decreased since 2008 and the lack of funding had a major impact on the market.  An option could be that the Council set up a development company to lead on to joint ventures and relationships.

-          Councillor Smith, the new Cabinet Member for Homes had met with housing associations and registered providers and the Homes Board continued its work to increase affordable housing.

-          Officers did what they could to ensure developers didn’t ‘play’ the system.  However, unless BCC owned the land, as a planning authority BCC had to stick to the guidelines and definitions set by government.

-          Members of the commission asked for clarification as to which scrutiny commission had the remit for housing.  It was suggested that affordable housing remain a topic on the overall scrutiny work programme for the coming year considering the big commitment set by the Mayor and new Cabinet.  If the topic was within the remit of the Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Commission, members requested a joint scrutiny item on the topic.

-          Concern was raised regarding the direction of travel for performance indicators for air quality and officers were asked to provide more detail on the actions to rectify the downward trend.  Officers agreed to find out if Co2 emissions were adjusted dependent on seasonal weather.  ACTION: Lead officer for air quality/Barra Mac Ruairi