Agenda item - Environmental Improvement Budget

52.1              Ododo Dafe, Head of Income Involvement & Improvement, introduced the briefing paper on the proposed environmental improvement budget that was set to go to the Housing & New Home Committee in January. She stated that they would ensure that funds would be distributed fairly across the city and they would update residents on the projects.

52.2              Residents raised concern for the budget approach and stated that they had been calling for a review of service charges for grounds maintenance. They added that residents wanted value for money and transparency in their service delivery.

52.3              Officers responded that the grounds maintenance contract was under review.

52.4              In response to a query on lease holder charges, officers stated that if there was an issue that needed addressing then there would need to be consultation to design a contract.

52.5              In response to residents, officers stated that they were hoping for approximately £500,000 for the Housing & New Homes Committee to approve for the environmental budget. They added that in terms of budget allocation, the team wanted to demonstrate a project happening in each area of the city in year one of the programme although there would be a practical, pragmatic and realistic needs based allocation approach that would work on a case-by-case basis.

52.6              The Chair raised concern that projects may be executed too quickly that could result in a lack of information via resident involvement and consultation.