Agenda item

This report provides an overview of the draft service plans which detail our ambitions, priorities, targets and how each service area is working towards delivering the Councils’ objectives outlined in the Corporate Framework. Key Performance Indicators and Service Volumes are included within the service plan alongside a link to the strategic, operational and climate resilience risks.

Recommendation

That the Committee comment on and/or request any amends to the draft service plans for 2025 – 2028. Final Service Plans will be agreed by Council alongside the budget.

The Partnerships Manager provided an introduction of the draft service plans, shared with the Committee for feedback, with a final version to be presented to Council in February along with the budget. The officer highlighted changes made to the service plan template for the current year, emphasising the publication of these plans on the website, which will include performance indicators and risk registers. A new link to the risk registers has been created within the service plans to ensure synchronisation and avoid duplication.

The Strategic Housing Manager provided a brief summary of the Housing and Residential Services plans.

Members raised concerns regarding the staggering need for social housing in the district. He questioned the availability of dwellings through the Thrive stock, specifically seeking data on the total number of dwellings, their availability percentage, and reasons for any properties being out of circulation, such as being unfit for habitation or sold. The officer acknowledged the lack of immediate figures but committed to retrieving the necessary data. They discussed the process of acquiring affordable housing through development agreements and the distribution of properties via nominations agreements, emphasising the importance of understanding the stock management by housing associations.

The Chair requested that figures on the housing stock be circulated to the Committee after the meeting and be included in the minutes.

Members also raised questions about potential key performance indicators (KPIs) for home building and the responsibilities of the local authority in developing housing stock. The officer responded by outlining the role of Housing Services as a consultee on planning applications, with the aim to achieving an affordable housing provision on a site that suits the council’s current housing needs. Also discussed, was the role of Environmental Health in assessing planning applications related to noise and lighting, emphasising the statutory obligations to investigate nuisances as defined by the Environmental Protection Act. The conversation also touched on the collaboration with Planning Policy to ensure adequate affordable housing is provided in the district.

The Associate Director for Environment advised that the Regulatory Services plan, which were previously divided between the two Service Committees but now sits entirely with  General Public Services, Community Safety & Infrastructure Committee due to recent changes. The officer clarified that this topic is not open for discussion in the current Committee meeting and suggests that it is for informational purposes only.

The officer moved onto the next service plan; Customer Experience and advised that the Committee should concentrate solely on the items within the service plan that are pertinent to Watersmeet, indicating a targeted approach to evaluating customer service aspects relevant to the specific context.

The Head of Customer Experience provided a brief summary on Watersmeet of the Customer Experience service plan.

The Associate Director for Environment provided a brief summary of the Climate Change and Sustainability service plan.

Members of the Committee raised concerns regarding the district's ambitious carbon emissions reduction targets, highlighting a calculation of 6,635,000 kilotons of CO2 emissions in 2018. The aim is to achieve a 48% reduction, bringing emissions down to 330,200 kilotons, but predictions suggest a further reduction to 260,000 kilotons by 2026. The officer acknowledged the ambitious nature of these goals but emphasised the importance of aiming high to achieve significant progress. A more detailed carbon trajectory report is being prepared, which will provide further insights for the Committee's consideration before the end of the current financial year.

The Head of Leisure and Natural Infrastructure provided a brief summary of the Leisure and Natural Infrastructure service plan.

Members raised questions about the maintenance of various land areas, particularly regarding Taylors Cut and the need for action on specific areas of land that haven’t been actively managed. The officer responded by outlining plans for a district-wide green space action plan, which aims to consolidate individual management strategies for key sites into a comprehensive framework. This initiative will involve stakeholder input to ensure that all relevant land areas, managed and maintained by the Council are addressed and properly managed, including considerations for flood management.

The Partnerships Manager provided a brief summary of the health area of the Strategy & Partnerships service plan.

The Associate Director for Environment provided a brief summary of the Waste & Environment Protection service plan, advising the Committee that they will only need to consider the information in the report relevant to the cemeteries.

In response to a request for further information on the cemeteries, the officer mentioned Woodcock Hill, which is currently open for burials; a closed cemetery in Chorleywood, which is maintained for biodiversity and nature, while still being a site for family visits; and the Heritage Cemetery at Leavesden, known as East Lane Cemetery. Each cemetery serves distinct purposes, ranging from active burials to conservation and heritage.

Members raised concerns regarding traveller plots in cemeteries, highlighting that there have been no recent issues raised. However, it is noted that community tensions occasionally arise. Ongoing efforts are being made in collaboration with Gate Hearts to review cemetery regulations and seek compromises that would address the needs of all community members.

The officer further explained that the management of cemeteries, distinguishing between closed cemeteries, which are managed with a focus on nature, and active cemeteries like Woodcock Hill, which are maintained in a more formal manner. The officer emphasised the differences in management strategies based on whether burials are still taking place.

In response to a question whether there is a need to increase live cemetery stock due to an increasing population and changing preferences, the officer confirmed that cremation is becoming more popular and pointed out a national shortage of burial space, indicating that Woodcock Hill may eventually run out of capacity. The officer also advised that while there are requests for additional burial space in Butler's Wells, there are currently no suitable areas available for expansion, and this issue is not unique to their locality but is a broader national concern.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee comment on and/or request any amends to the draft service plans for 2025 – 2028. Final Service Plans will be agreed by Council alongside the budget.