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Service Reforms

Under the Liveability project the Council had to put in place a number of service reforms in order to secure funding. £400,000 reveue money was available to put in place the service reforms and once these were completed the ODPM released the Capital project funding of £3,325,000.Details of the Service reforms are in our project brief below.

One of the service reforms was to set up a new Environmental Quality Ranger Team and details of their work in their first year are shown below along with how you can get involved in helping to keep the Borough Clean.

Schools Competitions

Roadshows

Dates and photos

Litter Hot Spots

31 litter hotspots have been identified by the Community Boards and are being

targeted for action. For more information on where the hot spots are, please follow this link >>

Liveability Service Reforms -

Project Brief

Background

On 2 February 2004, Tony McNulty, Minister for Transport for the Office representing the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), visited the Borough to announce that Havant Borough Council would be one of only 27 pilots in the country to deliver a Liveability pilot programme up to March 2006. The scheme aimed to test new approaches for tackling public space and local liveability issues that focused on and linked to sustainable service improvements, investment in innovative new parks and public spaces and action learning and sharing of good practice throughout the process.

A sum of £400,000 has been provided by the ODPM as revenue funding to assist in enabling these service reforms. Although this is an external funding programme, it is important that the Liveability programme is not used as substitution funding for existing Council resources. The ultimate aim is to ensure sustainability of the service reforms once the external funding has come to an end.

A report was presented to the Executive on 17 March 2004 outlining the Council's proposals for the Liveability Pilot project. The main elements of the Council's project were as follows:

Sustainable reforms to services to deliver improve the Borough's open spaces

A strategic Open Spaces Plan Final Report (PDF 2.36MB) and Open Spaces Plan Appendices (PDF 712KB) delivered through the new public spaces development team to ensure ongoing investment in the roll out and maintenance of the improvements;
An agreed Public Realm Design Framework to enhance the visual and physical amenity of the Borough and to provide a stronger a sense of borough wide identity.

A community based and strategic capital programme using Liveability capital funding and other identified resources.

The ODPM have also provided £3.325 million to the Council for capital schemes to assist in enhancing gateways, corridors, open spaces and play spaces in Havant Borough. This capital funding is provided to the Council to assist in the service reform process.

Project Definition

This project deals with the Liveability service reform programme made up of a number of individual projects. The project involves a number of key changes that will lead to a series of outputs and desired outcomes:

A restructure of Environmental Services to create clearer accountabilities for staff;

Area working arrangements linked to the new Community Boards, leading to more ownership and customer involvement;
Other changes in policy and operational teams;
New environmental quality team role;

Outputs

More effective scheduling of workloads and costing information;
More effective responses to customer requirements;
Improved management information through corporate customer service information;
Clearer strategies on open spaces and waste management;

Desired Outcomes

A better and more comprehensive response to customers;
Improved quality of the local environment;
Ownership by residents and Council staff of environmental quality issues;
Reduction in complaints about the local environment;
Increasing residents satisfaction with their locality;
Reduced fear of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Elements not included in the project

This programme does not include the Liveability Capital Programme or the Public Realm Design Framework which are dealt with in separate documents.

Objectives

To achieve significant improvements in local environmental quality (cleaner streets and open spaces).
Top 25% performance nationally by 2008

Improved measurable outcomes, meeting the Council's key priorities.
Direct link to the overall satisfaction, image and reputation of the Council.

Summary of Deliverables or Desired Outcomes

Deliverable	Description	Timescales
Customer complaints System improvements	Improve customer access to services and responses from the Council (Min 90% remedies and letters received resolved within service standards) through: improved customer management software; wider ownership by officers of customer service requests revised service standards communicated to all stakeholders; making use of improved management monitoring information to monitor and improve performance. Improved management monitoring information to monitor and improve performance.	Sept 05 Sept 05
Performance Indicators	Overview and development of BVPI 199 and other performance indicators to assist in service development and demonstrate improved outcomes. Development of meaningful local outcome Pis; Implement monitoring arrangements; Review PI data and make adjustments to service delivery; Use customer satisfaction surveys to improve service delivery; Make use of qualitative information to demonstrate successful outcomes. (Development of customer satisfaction surveys for all relevant services by April 2007)	June 05
Area working arrangements	Set up 3 generic area teams to be coterminous with 2 community board areas; Ensure reporting links to community boards; Identify and start to address a minimum of 5 litter hotspots for each community board area.	Sept 05
Review Parks and Open Spaces Health and Safety Arrangements	Ensure adequate risk assessments and monitoring arrangements are in place to safeguard the health and safety of employees and members of the public.	Sept 05
Implementation of revised work schedules including the development and implementation of Grounds Maintenance software;	Revised and costed work schedules to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service. To include adequate monitoring and review arrangements. Effectively implement chosen software with links to the corporate Customer Services Centre.	Dec 05
Production and implementation of Strategic Open Spaces Plan	Strategic plan that informs future investment and sustainable development of the Borough's parks and other open spaces; Exploration of Green Flag criteria for Borough Parks and Green Spaces; Revised local Planning Policy for determining Section 106 and other agreements.	July 05
Dog/litter bin policy	Carry out a survey the current positions and condition of all litter and dog bins in the Borough; Develop and implement a consistent effective and transparent policy for the provision, repair, replacement based on the survey carried out in 2004.	Sept 05
Delivery of other service reforms including the coordination of grass cutting, and litter collection etc	Improve efficiency and effectiveness of these services using the member scrutiny process.	Sept 05
Cemeteries Improvement Plan	Risk based programme for implementation of an independent consultant's recommendations	Dec 05
Environmental Quality Team	Improvements in local environmental quality outcomes through: Effective monitoring of local EQ outcomes Improved internal and external partnership working (businesses and other LA's); Developing community capacity and community engagement; Education programmes ; Effective communication arrangements; Targeted enforcement campaigns.	April 06
Review of toilet provision and cleansing;	Review provision of toilets in the Borough including maintenance and cleansing schedules.	Dec 05
Beachlands Management	Implement health and safety risk assessments including a review of Beach Zoning following implementation of interim arrangements.	Feb 06
Review of agencies and volunteers and conservation groups.	Review effectiveness and provision as well as develop mechanisms to encourage stronger participation	March 06
Allotment Provision	Investment/divestment plan with assistance from the Planning and Estates services.	Feb 06
Fees and charges review	Review basis for current fees and charges and develop proposed changes to ensure continued value for money for Council assets	Jan 06
Building facilities and other parks assets project;	Audit of buildings and other facilities owned or leased by the Council. Develop short, medium and long term plans for these Council assets; Ensure effective health and safety and security arrangements are in place for all buildings.	March 06

Havant Borough Council