Local residents are set to be “better informed” by Bath & North East Somerset Council as it looks to commit to regular reporting on 20 key measures of how it is performing.
The move, which is being discussed by the council’s cabinet today, Thursday, 9th September, has been designed to open up information about the impact the local authority is having on its purpose of “improving people’s lives”.
The quarterly updates will contain 20 measures of how the council is delivering its Corporate Strategy priorities, including information on recycling rates, the delivery of new homes, care services, child protection, fly-tipping and overall satisfaction rates.
Each measure will contain background information to help clarify the data.
Cllr Richard Samuel, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development and resources said: “We are committed to openness and transparency about how the council operates. It is right that our community can hold the council to account by using measurable data.
“This is the first of these reports and some of this is new so we will listen to views. We will keep refining it to ensure it reflects how well we are delivering our priorities in a clear and understandable way.
“Above all, we will use this data to make a difference and to drive improvement and delivery.”
The initial report updates on the first three months of this financial year and tracks progress in delivering the council’s “core policy” of tackling the climate and ecological emergency, with latest figures showing that:
- Almost 6,700 new trees have been planted on council owned land
- More than 59% of household waste recycled or composted
In addition, 1163 net new homes have been delivered, exceeding the target and more older people are being cared for in their own homes for longer.
The report also says there is an increase in satisfaction with the council, with 64% of residents saying they are satisfied in the survey.