Agenda item

(CSP: BEC, BEC1, BEC2, SLE, SLE1, SLE2, P&S, P&S1, HQL, HQL1, MEC, MEC1)

Purpose:  To report Q2 outturns for the Key Accountable Measures which monitor performance against the 2018/19 Council Performance Framework. To provide assurance that the objectives set out in the Council Strategy and other areas of significant activity are being managed effectively. To present, by exception, those measures that are predicted to be 'amber' or 'red' and provide information on any remedial action taken and the impact of that action. To recommend changes to measures/targets as requested by services.

Resolved that:

·         Progress against the KAMs and key achievements in all services be noted.

·         Those areas reported as ‘amber’ and ‘red’ had been reviewed to ensure that appropriate actions were now in place:

Amber:

1)    (LRIER) London Road Industrial Estate redevelopment 2018/19 milestone: Create and gain approval for the business plan.

2)    Increase number of West Berkshire premises able to receive Superfast Broadband services 24Mb/s or above.

3)    Average number of days taken to make a full decision on new benefits claims.

4)    % of people presenting as homeless where the homelessness has been relieved or prevented.

Red:

1)    % of WBC provider services inspected by Care Quality Commission (CQC) that are rated good or better by CQC in the area of “safe”.

2)    % of clients with Long Term Service receiving a review in the past 12 months.

3)    % of ‘major’ planning applications determined within 13 weeks or the agreed extended time.

4)    % of ‘minor’ planning applications determined within 8 weeks or the agreed extended time.

·         The Development and Planning Service consideration of an alternative KPI for “% of high priority Disabled Facilities Grants approved within 9 weeks of receipt of full grant applications” be noted.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 31 December 2018, then it will be implemented.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 6) which outlined quarter two outturns for the Key Accountable Measures which monitored performance against the 2018/19 Council Performance Framework; provided assurance that the objectives set out in the Council Strategy 2015-2019 and other areas of significant activity were being managed effectively; presented, by exception, those measures which were predicted to be ‘amber’ (behind scheduled) or ‘red’ (not achievable) at year end and information on any remedial action and its impact; and which recommended changes to measures/targets as requested by service areas.

Councillor Dominic Boeck, in introducing the report, gave an assurance that actions had been put in place to make improvements to the ‘amber’ and ‘red’ measures where possible.

Councillor Graham Bridgman commented on the two Adult Social Care (ASC) measures which were reporting ‘red’. As noted previously, the indicator ‘% of WBC provider services inspected by Care Quality Commission that are rated good or better by the CQC in the area of “safe”’ was ‘red’ as the 100% target had not been met. This was because the Birchwood Care Home had been given a rating of Requires Improvement and this could not be changed at least until the home was re-inspected. Councillor Bridgman added the positive news that the embargo on making placements at Birchwood had been lifted. He commended officers for their work on making improvements to the home.

The second ‘red’ measure in ASC was ‘% of clients with Long Term Service (LTS) receiving a review in the past 12 months’. Councillor Bridgman explained that there were two issues impacting on performance in this area. A manager in this area of work had recently retired and turnover was high. However, work was ongoing to address this and new staff were bedding in.

Councillor Hilary Cole turned to the ‘red’ measure in Development and Planning. She explained that Development Control had historically achieved the targets for determining major, minor and other planning applications. The targets were originally set at a level agreed with the Planning Service Customer Panel and allowed time for negotiation and amendment with a view to gaining planning approvals. However, as part of the New Ways of Working review it was noted that the local performance targets were below other similar Local Planning Authorities. It was therefore agreed to increase the targets to the national average mid-way through the financial year. There was every confidence that the targets could be achieved in 2019/20, however it would prove challenging in 2018/19 as the changes were introduced mid-year.

Councillor Lee Dillon thanked Councillor Bridgman for his explanation of the ‘red’ indicators in ASC. He understood the points made regarding the Birchwood Care Home, but was concerned that the indicator ‘reviews for long term clients’ was again reporting as ‘red’. He noted the explanation of staffing, but he felt this to be a further excuse following poor performance in previous quarters. Care packages should be reviewed in a timely manner to ensure they were appropriate. Reviews could also identify savings if there were cases of over provision and this was important when considering the ASC overspend.

Councillor Bridgman explained that reviews of financial packages were under control. He offered to discuss further details with Councillor Dillon outside of the meeting.

Councillor Jeff Brooks was pleased to note that the redevelopment of the London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE) had been referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Commission (OSMC) for a thorough investigation. However, he questioned why the measure was only rated as ‘amber’ rather than ‘red’ considering the extensive difficulties that had been encountered. Councillor Boeck added his expectation that a thorough review would be undertaken by the OSMC. The measure was reported as ‘amber’, however the rating could be reconsidered post the outcome of the scrutiny review.

Councillor Graham Jones commented that the redevelopment of the LRIE had been subject to court proceedings and there was only a single finding against the Council.

RESOLVED that:

·         Progress against the KAMs and key achievements in all services be noted.

·         Those areas reported as ‘amber’ and ‘red’ had been reviewed to ensure that appropriate actions were in place (listed below):

Amber:

1)        (LRIER) London Road Industrial Estate redevelopment 2018/19 milestone: Create and gain approval for the business plan.

2)        Increase number of West Berkshire premises able to receive Superfast Broadband services 24Mb/s or above.

3)        Average number of days taken to make a full decision on new Benefits claims.

4)        % of people presenting as homeless where the homelessness has been relieved or prevented.

Red

1)        % of WBC provider services inspected by Care Quality Commission (CQC) that are rated good or better by CQC in the area of “safe”.

2)        % of clients with Long Term Service (LTS) receiving a review in the past 12 months.

3)        % of ‘major’ planning applications determined within 13 weeks or the agreed extended time.

4)        % of ‘minor’ planning applications determined within 8 weeks or the agreed extended time.

·         The fact that the D&P Service were considering an alternative KPI for ‘% of high priority Disabled Facilities Grants approved within 9 weeks of receipt of full grant applications’ be noted.

Other options considered: None.