HC Deb 17 October 1995 vol 264 cc201-2W
Mr. Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what targets she has set for the executive agencies in her Department. [37739]

Mr. Sproat

The following targets have been set for 1995–96:

  • For the Historic Royal Parks agency
  • Financial Targets:
  • Commercial Surplus—£7.4 million
  • Call on the taxpayer: £6.7 million
  • Visitor Satisfaction Measures1
  • Visitors' average ratings of:
  • Value for Money—0.7 to 1.0
  • Enjoyment—above 1.4
  • Helpful and friendly staff—above 1.4
  • Efficiency Target:
  • Savings on running costs—2 per cent.

Conservation Target: To complete the fire prevention works planned for 1995–96 and the programme of works identified by the buildings condition surveys as needed in 1995–96. To undertake further detailed inspections of the specific areas identified by the surveys as possibly needing work in 1996–97. 1Visitor ratings are assessed from market research interviews with 900 visitors, undertaken by independent consultants each summer. 2.0 is extremely good; 1.5 is very good; 1.0 is quite good; 0 is OK; -1.0 is quite poor; -2.0 is very poor. For the Royal Parks agency

Fabric:

  1. (i) Examine the scope for private sector finance to fund the necessary works required to remove the three remaining buildings on the "at risk" register.
  2. (ii) Carry out all the outstanding maintenance identified as necessary to meet health and safety obligations.
  3. (iii) Redraft tender documents for three remaining grounds maintenance contracts which expire in March 1996, invite competitive tenders and award new contracts.
  4. (iv) Achieve an average rating of at least 75 per cent. across all parks in response to the visitor survey question: "how do you rate the cleanliness of this park?"
  5. (v) Redraft tender documents for the works management contract.

Financial:

  1. (i) Increase income from £1.8 million in 199–95 to £2.3 million from permits, licences, events, concessions and car parking.
  2. (ii) Achieve 1.5 per cent. improvement in running costs efficiency.
  3. (iii) Complete development of an agency pay and grading system in order that a new system can be introduced by 1 April 1996.

Visitor Survey:

  1. Achieve an overall quality rating of 8 marks out of 10 in response to visitor survey question "Overall, how would you rate the quality of the park?"

Assessment of soft landscape quality: Each park to achieve an overall score of 7 marks out of 10 for its soft landscape presentation.