To report on the available Performance Indicators position and provide information about current performance management work within the Economic and Community Services Division of the Adult and Community Services Directorate.

The Committee was informed of the available performance indicators position and provided with information about current performance management work within the Economic and Community Services Division of the Adult and Community Services Directorate.

The Performance Improvement Manager began by explaining that all the indicators in the performance report were not under their target figures but improvements on the previous year.  With regard to Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) 178, ‘The percentage of total length of footpaths and public rights of way which were easy to use by members of the public’, the target of 48% had been exceeded so a successful status icon should have been printed in the report. In addition to this BVPI 127a ‘Number of violent crimes in Herefordshire’ performance in Quarter 2 was 7.5 and not 4 as listed in the agenda papers.  A copy of the performance report was appended to the report.

The Committee continued to discuss BVPI 178 regarding footpaths in more detail.  In response to a question the Performance Improvement Manager explained that in order to measure success towards the target a small percentage of the County’s footpaths were inspected at specific intervals each year. 

A Member of the Committee said that, whilst he understood the inspection regime, he felt that more needed to be done to ensure that the County’s footpaths remained open.  Inspecting a small percentage of the County’s footpaths each year did not ensure that all footpaths were accessible to users.  The County had many footpaths which were an important feature in its attraction to tourists.

It was noted that whilst the target for footpaths had been met the target set was not  particularly high in the first place.  According to the performance report only 49% of the footpaths inspected were considered easy to use by members of the public.  A Member of the Committee deduced that this meant that the remaining 51% of the footpaths inspected were considered not easy to use when they were inspected.  As this figure only represented a small percentage of the County’s footpaths the Committee expressed concern at the potential number of footpaths which may not be easy to use throughout the County if the figure from the inspected footpaths was representative of all footpaths in Herefordshire.

Other Members commented that individual farmers and parish councils had responsibilities to keep footpaths in their jurisdiction open.

The Director of Adult and Community Services informed the Committee that there were significant resource issues which impacted upon the level of footpath maintenance that could take place.  He also accepted that to a certain extent the Council was reliant on the work of parish councils in ensuring that footpaths in the County were easy to use by members of the public.  He stated that he would circulate a briefing note outside of the meeting concerning the issues raised and the responsibilities of parish councils and footpaths.

The Head of Economic and Community Services explained that there were good relationships in place with many of the County’s parish councils who were able to apply for grants to enable them to help maintain their footpaths.  The same situation was not true of all private landowners who often gave enforcement officers a difficult time and had to be threatened with legal action to ensure they met their statutory obligations.

The Cabinet Member (Community Services) added that footpaths were a very difficult issue to deal with.  He commented that any legal issues often took years to resolve and the budgets for maintenance were always overspent..

In relation to Local PI LPSAA2G, ‘Average (median) weekly earnings in Herefordshire compared with the average in the West Midlands’, it was noted that the average earnings in Herefordshire for 2005/06 was significantly lower than the West Midlands average. 

The Director of Adult and Community Services explained that whilst there was low unemployment in Herefordshire the quality of jobs available was not particularly high.  This meant that wages were lower.  It was part of the Council’s Economic Strategy to encourage companies requiring higher skilled and consequently higher paid workers to the County.  At the same time schemes were in place to retrain people to increase Herefordshire’s skills base.

It was noted that the target regarding the number of respondents who found it easy to access a Post Office was set at 85% and not 58% as set out in the report.

The Cabinet Member (Community Services) added that he was pleased to report that BVPIs 170a/b/c, with regard to Museum usages, were all set to be achieved.  In the past these targets had been difficult to achieve.  It was explained that the target which counted number of visits to a museum per 1000 of the population counted out of County visitors.

RESOLVED:

That: (a) the Director of Adult and Community Services circulated an information report regarding footpaths in the County including the responsibilities of Parish Councils;

and;

(b) the report be noted