Agenda item

The item was introduced by the Area Council Manager.  Attention was drawn to the re-commissioning or extension of existing commissions.

Members noted that the Tidy Team Commission had now been advertised on Yortender, and the tender evaluation panel had been arranged consisting of the Chair, Area Manager, and a representative of Parks Services.   It was expected that the new contract would be awarded towards the end of June, 2016, and that there would be no breaks in provision when the current contract finishes on 3^rd August.

Members noted that the new contract with Kingdom Security to provide Environmental Enforcement had commenced, and that the One Stop Shop project had been extended to the end of March, 2017. This was to allow for the project to be recommissioned if Area Council funding was available beyond this date.

With regards to the Summer Holiday Internship, it was noted that two contracts were in place.  The first contract for the 2015 cohort would run until November, 2016, to enable the provider to maintain contact with the young people until settled in their first destination after leaving school.  The second contract had commenced, with C&K Careers already engaged with schools to recruit the 2016 cohort.  Feedback was that schools had been more accommodating, recognising the difference the project had made to those who had participated in the first phase.

With regards to the courses for businesses, it was noted that these had now all been held, and the take up rate had only been 18%.  Feedback from training providers had suggested that businesses were more likely to engage if drop-in training sessions were held, and it was agreed to take account of this in the future.

Members noted the finance returned to the Area Council from fixed penalty and parking charge notices, with the total income to date being £68,210.

The Area Manager noted that the number of clients that the One Stop Shop had engaged with was now approaching 1500 after a lull around Christmas time.  The amount of additional benefit gained due to advice given and amount of debt managed were both now in excess of £1million.

With regards to the Environmental Enforcement contract, Members noted that they would now be working more closely with the Tidy Team to ensure that once an area had been cleaned, littering and dog fouling would be discouraged.  To this end, it was suggested that a representative from Kingdom Security be invited to the Tidy Team steering group meetings.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.