Agenda item

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices delivered by the Director of Services as set out in report pages 172 to 176, which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Director of Services explained the background to the report and recommendations sought.

Members were informed that this report was an update on service reviews.

Customer Services Transformation Programme

Members were informed that customer services were being transferred to premises at 40 Bell Street, Wigston to make it more accessible to the public. We are on target to do this and have a new centre open in July 2015.

The Head of Corporate Resources informed Members that the Council was on target with the premises contract and were waiting for a dilapidations report. Members were informed the Council has negotiated a 6 year lease with a 3 month holiday period with an annual rent of £23.500.If the Council renew the lease then there will be a 3 month rent free period.

Planning Policy, Planning Control and Building Control.

Members were informed that there was no change Planning Policy and that the Local Plan was up to date. That Planning Control had procedure in place and was not under resourced.

Members were informed that Building Control had two strands

1)    Fee earning side for advice, building inspections and making sure regulations were met.

2)    No Fee making side for enforcement action when people haven’t complied with regulations.

For fee earning the Council can set their own fees but it has to be cost neutral service. Fee income is short at covering the service. In conclusion that due to the size of the borough there is limited fee earning and Building Control is open to the market meaning the Council can get undercut.

The Council has lost its Building Control Manager .Options are to have a shared service Leicestershire wide. Other authorities have shown very little interest. There were a lot of options to consider and a report will be brought back within six months.

A Member was concerned that a decision had been made and had heard that another Authority is delighted we are giving building control work to them.

The Director of Services informed the Member that nothing had been agreed with another Authority and that we need to look at all the options open to us.

A Member welcomed the report but was concerned that no enforcement was taking place and that it was a concern for residents. The turnover of staff, people used to be using the Council as a stepping stone now it’s a pebble.

A Member queried the £282,000 cost and was informed that it was the whole cost of the service and was provided by management but the points raised would be clarified.

A Member was pleased the Customer Services Transformation was on track and in relation to building control stated we should welcome people moving on to better careers but the concerns raised are a reality check on how we need to respond as an authority. 

RESOLVED:   That Members move recommendations as detailed in the report.