Job numbers soar in Cherwell The number of jobs created in Cherwell over the past three months has exceeded the target set for the entire year. Yesterday (Monday, 2 December) members of Cherwell District Councils executive discussed the councils performance report from 1 July - 30 September. The figures showed the council had exceeded across numerous target areas, including contributing towards the provision/ safeguarding of jobs, processing major planning applications and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction with waste and recycling. Cllr Nicholas Turner, lead member for performance and customers, said: These regular reports are vital in enabling us to review our performance over the past three months to ensure we stay on track to meet our various targets and dont go adrift. The figures for July to September are incredibly encouraging with many areas meeting or exceeding targets. However the real success is the provision and protection of 330 jobs across the district. While on paper it shows we have exceeded quarterly and annual targets, the real achievement is in knowing this has made a huge difference to the lives of hundreds of residents who have found themselves in new or secure employment. This quarter the council was targeted with contributing towards the creation or safeguarding of 25 jobs, with an overall target of 200 for the entire year. Many of the 330 jobs have been associated with the opening of the £70 million Pioneer Square development in Bicester. Elsewhere, significant improvement has been made in the processing of major planning applications within the 13 week deadline. This has risen from 68.75 per cent in quarter one to 76.47 per cent in quarter, exceeding the 50 per cent target. Furthermore, customer satisfaction with waste and recycling services has risen from 80 per cent in the first quarter to 83 per cent, signifying a three per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Areas which saw a reduction in performance included the delivery of affordable homes with 59 of the 66 targeted homes being delivered. However, the shortfall has been offset by an over performance in the first quarter, which means Cherwell has met year to date targets of delivering 93 homes. There has also been a one per cent reduction in household recycling rates, which fell from 58 per cent in quarter one to the targeted rate of 57 per cent in quarter two. This has been associated with a reduction in garden waste due to the low rainfall.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 11:06:23 +0000