Richmond Council is facing challenges in key performance areas, particularly in recycling and affordable housing, according to a recent Policy and Performance Review Board meeting. Temporary housing numbers have also risen. The council is measuring its performance against targets outlined in the Richmond Corporate Plan (RCP), including a 46% recycling rate, 66 affordable housing completions, and a target of 475 households in temporary accommodation.
The board reviewed the council's corporate performance against the Richmond Corporate Plan (RCP) actions and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the year 2024/25. While some areas showed improvement, others, including housing and waste management, lagged behind.
Areas of Underperformance
One of the most significant areas of concern was the number of households living in temporary accommodation, which has increased by 15% compared to the previous year. The report cited increased demand, rising private sector rents, and evictions as contributing factors. However, the council noted that new landlord incentives are proving effective in mitigating the issue. While the specific incentives are not detailed in the provided text, the report mentions that introduction of the new landlord incentives is proving to be effective
in mitigating the rise in temporary accommodation.
Affordable housing completions also fell short of targets, with only 29 completions compared to a target of 66. The council acknowledged its limited direct control over completion numbers, as affordable homes are primarily delivered by Registered Providers (RPs). The PPRB - End of Year 2024-25 performance report notes that delays on sites have impacted completion rates: The Council works hard with RPs to deliver affordable housing in the Borough but has limited direct control over completion numbers. Due to delays on site, the remaining 37 units are due to be completed early in the new financial year 2025/26 including Richmond Royal Hospital Site (15 units), Queens Road (12 units - almhouses) and x2 former garage sites (10 units).
In waste management, the proportion of household waste sent for recycling, reuse, and composting also underperformed, although the council noted an increase compared to the same period last year. Although the proportion of household waste sent for recycling, reuse and composting has not met the challenging target of 46%, the PPRB - End of Year 2024-25 performance report shows that the Q3 result (reported a quarter in arrears) still shows an encouraging increase of almost three percentage points compared to the same period last year (42.5% versus 39.8%).
Future Actions
The Policy and Performance Review Board will continue to monitor the council's performance and work with relevant committees to address areas of underperformance. The board also plans to discuss key performance indicators at a future meeting, as well as contact the Environment Committee to discuss pavement staining. The report indicates that pavement staining is noticeable after long hot weather and is not included in the definition of litter and detritus. However, residents can report spillages as a hazard. The council is exploring using graffiti washing equipment to potentially wash off oil and other detritus, with a pilot having been conducted in Whitton High Street.
The full minutes of the meeting, including detailed reports and appendices, are available on the Richmond Council website.
