The Board is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme.
The Board will also receive a verbal update on the work of the winter performance task group, customer service excellence member reference group and highways for the future member reference group from their respective Chairmen.
Minutes:
Key Points Raised During the Discussion:
1.
The Board noted the Actions and Recommendations
Tracker and agreed its provisional Forward Work
Programme. An informal forward work
planning session was scheduled to be held on conclusion of the
formal Board meeting.
2.
The Chairman reported that at the initial meeting of
the Performance & Finance Sub-Group there had been a discussion
about ways of working and an outline work programme had been
agreed. There had been an issue about
the timeliness of information submitted to the Sub-Group for the
meeting, and it had been agreed that meetings would in future be
adjourned if papers weren’t received at least two days in
advance. The Chairman would provide an
oral update on the work of the Sub-Group at each Board
meeting.
3.
The Chairman updated the Board on progress with the
Superfast Broadband project, and it was noted that the target of
95% of properties in the programme area having superfast broadband
by the end of the year was set to be exceeded. A copy of the performance and finance sub group
update report would be circulated to the board.
4.
The Board received updates from the Chairmen of its
Member Reference Groups as follows:
Customer Service Excellence
The Members had visited the Council’s Call Centre and had
asked that resources for this service be protected because it
provided a key first point of contact which was vital to the
reputation of the Council. The Member
Reference Group was reviewing highways contractors’ response
systems and had also commissioned studies into specific highways
projects such as Project Horizon. A
visit to the Kier control centre had also been held.
A key on-going issue for the Member Reference Group was in relation
to communications about highways work, including signage and
letters to affected individuals and businesses. Members were encouraged to let the Group know
about any examples of failings in the process. The issue of inadequate weights being used to
secure temporary road signs was raised, and this was noted by the
Cabinet Member. The importance of
Members receiving a short bulletin about road works in their
division was also highlighted, as good information significantly
reduced the number of enquiries and help
to set expectations.
10.40 Peter Hickman arrived at the meeting
Highways for the Future
Recent work of the Group had focussed on development of the
five-year Highway Business Plan, which aimed to ensure alignment
between the Services’ goals and the Council’s Corporate
Priorities. The Group had also reviewed
the Asset Management Consultation toolkit, which was used to inform
future spending decisions.
A visit to Northamptonshire had been held to see how Kier operated
their highways contract there. This had
highlighted initiatives which could be introduced in Surrey,
particularly in relation to the social value agenda such as
providing employment opportunities for disabled people.
The Group was currently reviewing its findings, and recommendations
would be presented to the Board at its meeting on November
2015.
Actions:
The Board to receive oral updates from its sub-groups as and when required at board meetings.
Supporting documents: