How we plan to Boost our Local Economy in 2009/10 and how or progress will be measured
Community Plan Goal… "More "quality" jobs and increased employment opportunities in a strong, prosperous, self-reliant local economy." Objective Action ref Aim to meet the housing needs for our residents and promote a range of housing opportunities to AHOU091001 ensure all have a decent and affordable home and can live as independently as AHOU091002 possible Action Continue to develop a range of quality and effective housing options to prevent the need for homelessness: Measures
Develop a social housing lettings agency in partnership with a registered Average no. of days all homeless households spend housing provider in (a) B & B accommodation (b) other temporary accommodation (HHA/015) Work with current landlords who own empty flats over shops to bring them back into use with the aid of grant assistance
AIA091002 Create more varied and stronger businesses (Provide an integrated business support and AIA091001 advice scheme to businesses in Rhondda Cynon Taf)
Increase Business Club membership through market research, implementation of marketing strategy and associated programme of events Commence grant funding and provide grant & environmental advice to small businesses
No. of new members of the business club (Target 10 New Members) (LDNR103) No. of Individuals financially supported to set up a new enterprise (Target 28) (LDNR101) No. of Enterprises financially supported (Target 74) (LDNR102) No. of grant applications supported No. of jobs created through grant opportunities
ADNR091001
Co-ordinate and deliver Business Club events, including joint events with partners
Hold 10 Business Club Events
Community Plan Goal… "Towns, villages, streets and homes that have been improved and revitalised, through new development which is sympathetic to our environment" Objective Formulate and produce a Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Development Plan (LDP) and see the timely progression of the plan through the relevant statutory stages to adoption (Following Draft Deposit LDP consultation in 2008/09) Implement Rhondda Cynon Taf Town Centre Regeneration Strategy Action ref ADNR091002 Action Produce an initial Consultation Record of Representations made (including acknowledgments and assessments) Produce a Consultation Document on Alternative LDP sites Measures
ADNR091003
ADNR091004
Undertake 6 week public consultation on LDP Alternative Sites
ADNR091005
Produce final LDP submission for review and eventual formal submission to Planning Inspectorate Promote and encourage visitors to town centres through seasonal events (including Christmas events; Nos Galan; Carnivals etc.) Hold 10 Seasonal Events
ADNR091006
ACAM091001
Complete Convergence Funding Business Case for Pontypridd Regeneration in order to secure funding and also confirm match funding from Council and other sources Secure and manage available funding opportunities for the Council and its partners to deliver high quality economic regeneration across Rhondda Cynon Taf Develop, co-ordinate, facilitate and implement regeneration strategies within Rhondda Cynon Taf in collaboration with partners and other key organisations in South East Wales £ funding secured through grant activity
ADNR091007 Promote a positive image by encouraging economic regeneration and ADNR091008 investment through grant funded projects
Community Plan Goal… "Vibrant Communities with a viable long term future" Objective Action ref Increase the levels of AFOP091001 income available to Rhondda Cynon Taf residents and local businesses, mitigating against the impact of the recession and AFOP091002 therefore reducing poverty and deprivation AFOP091003 Action Maximise income for local people through increased Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit and Free School Meals ‘take-up’ as a result of innovative benefit take-up campaigns e.g. home visits and outreach work, and partnership working with the Local Health Board (LHB) to target antenatal clinics and maternity units, directly influencing the Child Poverty agenda Assist local business through prompt payment of invoices, providing targeted support and promoting business entitlement to exemptions, discounts and relief Pay all non-disputed invoices within 10 working days, in line with the 'Prompt payment times' key priority identified by the First Wales Economic Summit' Utilise/exploit IT applications to maximise processing efficiencies to improve speed of service delivery and enable ‘self-service’ and ‘eenablement’ functionality including e-claiming, self service, and direct debit payments Develop, refine and introduce key operational 'service standards' with a Service standards implemented and monitored view to improving timeliness of service provision and management of customers expectations Improve quality of processing within the Benefits Service to ensure that customers receive their correct entitlement through continued support and training for processors, updated procedures and improved quality assurance processes Measures Time taken to process Housing Benefits and Council Tax new claims and change events (BNF/004) Increase in the total number of customers receiving benefits (28,100 2009) % Undisputed Invoices paid within 30 Days (CFH/006) % Undisputed Invoices paid within 10 Working Days
AFOP091004
AFOP091005
AFOP091006
Community Plan Goal… "Vibrant Communities with a viable long term future" Objective Action ref Improve Development APLA091001 Control customer satisfaction via quality APLA091002 communication and information systems APLA091003 Action Increase the information provided on the Council's website to include pages on enforcement and conservation Review the existing information provided on the Council website including the Building Control pages to improve information available to members of the public Review communication with customers via improvements to standard letters Measures % of customers saying Development Control keeps them well informed % of building control customers satisfied with standard of services
% electronic interactions
APLA091004
Develop the agents forum, providing briefings on key development control issues e.g. design and access statements, to improve the quality of applications received and customer relationships Implement a programme of positive publicity for successful enforcement No. of press releases action taken
Raise awareness of APLA091005 planning enforcement and deliver a more proactive and collaborative service
Community Plan Goal… "Vibrant Communities with a viable long term future" Objective Action ref To protect the rights of APPN091027 the consumer, maintain a fair trading environment for local businesses, support and encourage local businesses through APPN091028 effective enforcement, regulation and business support Action Measures No. of inspections completed and % failure rate Continue to promote an inspection programme to ensure that medical equipment in GP surgeries and hospitals comply with the Non automatic Weighing Regulations 2000
Identify, monitor and analyse complaints against Internet websites based Outcome of Action Taken within the Authority on a monthly basis
Community Plan Goal… "Vibrant Communities with a viable long term future" Objective To ensure that Rhondda Cynon Taff is promoted as a tourist destination, raising the profile of the County Borough on the UK tourism map Action ref ATOU091001 ATOU091002 Action Relaunch Dare Valley Country Park as a premier visitor attraction Measures No. of visitors
Promote Dare Valley Country Park as a central accommodation base to No. of occupants (residential/camping/caravan) explore Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Heads of the Valleys area Develop www.destinationrct.co.uk into a searchable website for accommodation Contribute to and shape the new Valleys brand being led by the Visit Wales and Heads of the Valleys Programme to improve the status of RCT as a tourist destination within the UK No. of website sessions
ATOU091003 ATOU091004
Community Plan Goal… "Vibrant Communities with a viable long term future" Objective Provide a cultural service that supports the regeneration of the County Borough by enhancing local cultural identity; promoting a positive image of Rhondda Cynon Taf Action ref ACUL091001 Action Introduce on line selling through Cultural Services website to improve customer access to the venue programmes in the Council theatres Measures Establish baseline % of transactions completed on line
Support Local Businesses and Regenerate local communities
AIA091003 AIA091004 AIA091005
Encourage local suppliers to register on Buy 4 Wales and/or the Council % of creditor payments to local businesses, using Strategic Procurement System postcodes CF, SA, NP (Target 60.5%) (LPRO101) Monitor the number of local contracts awarded within CF, NP and SA postcodes Monitor formal and work experience opportunities provided by the Contractor for the Church Village Bypass Scheme No. of long term unemployed to deliver major projects (Target 50) (LPR0102)