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Agenda item

Key Accountable Performance 2018/19: Quarter Four (EX3423)

Purpose: To report Q4 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 have reported '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.

Decision:

Resolved that:

 

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

·         Those areas reported as ‘red’, as detailed in Appendix F, had been reviewed to ensure that appropriate actions were in place, especially for the measures relating to the Superfast Broadband Project for West Berkshire and the number of bed days due to Delayed Transfers of Care (DToC).

·         The following areas be referred for further analysis at the Overview and Scrutiny Management Commission (OSMC). Namely, the results and improvement actions for:

(a) the education attainment for Free School Meals cohorts;

(b)the timeliness of reviews of ASC clients with Long Term Support;

(c)the homelessness prevention and alleviation; and

(d)a number of measures reported under the Protecting Children core business.

·         The increasing concern in 2018/19 regarding safeguarding and quality relating to some Adult Social Care providers be noted.

 

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 1 August 2019, then it will be implemented.

Minutes:

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 6) concerning the Council’s Key Accountable Performance 2018/19: Quarter Four. Councillor Howard Woollaston introduced the report 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; and presented, by exception, those measures which were reported ‘red’ at year end; and outlined remedial action taken/its impact.

Councillor Woollaston reported that the Council was performing well against many of its demanding targets and continually strived to improve standards. He proposed acceptance of the report’s recommendations.

Councillor Lynne Doherty added that the Council had, in general, coped well in areas of high demand, in particular Adult Social Care (ASC) and Children and Family Services.

Councillor Doherty was disappointed that the very ambitious and challenging educational attainment targets had not been met. However, she was pleased that improvements had still been made. It was the case that school standards were improving nationally and this made the achievement of targets, that would place West Berkshire in the top quartile, even more challenging.

Turning to the strategic priority to close the educational attainment gap, Councillor Doherty stated that work to improve the attainment of pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) and help them achieve their potential would continue to be a focus of the new Council Strategy. The responsibility for this did not solely fall to schools, partner organisations also had a key role to play. Early years settings in particular played a very important role in working with this cohort of pupils.

Councillor Doherty commended the work of schools, officers and partner organisations for all their efforts in this difficult area. Councillor Dominic Boeck did likewise and also highlighted the fact that many of these pupils had complex educational needs.

Councillor Doherty concluded her comments by pointing out that alongside the Council’s new strategic priorities, its core business/business as usual would continue. She highlighted improvements to the timeliness of processing benefit claims and for determining planning applications. These were two areas which highlighted the importance given to a positive customer focus.

Councillor Graham Bridgman spoke on the three recommendations relating to ASC. He firstly confirmed that actions continued to be taken to decrease the number of bed days due to a Delayed Transfer of Care (DToC). As discussed many times previously, this was a complex area and there were a number of different elements which could contribute to delays in transferring a patient from hospital to a home care package/alternative care. Councillor Bridgman stated that the issue was more predominant on the healthcare side. Work continued between Health and ASC colleagues to manage this on an ongoing basis.

Councillor Bridgman was satisfied that this area was being given sufficient focus.

Secondly, Councillor Bridgman referred to the proposal for the Overview and Scrutiny Management Commission (OSMC) to further analyse the timeliness of reviews of ASC clients with Long Term Support to ensure this had happened within the past 12 months. Councillor Bridgman welcomed the OSMC’s involvement. He described work being undertaken to understand how these reviews were being conducted by other local authorities to establish whether changes could be made to the Council’s processes, i.e. could some reviews be brought forward and were there cases where a delay was more acceptable.

Finally, the Executive was asked to note the increasing concern in 2018/19 regarding safeguarding and quality relating to some external ASC providers which had arisen following CQC inspections. Councillor Bridgman confirmed that ASC Safeguarding Officers had been closely involved in responding to these concerns.

Councillor Hilary Cole referred to the ‘red’ indicator for determining planning applications. She pointed out that revised targets were adopted in Quarter Two and it had not been possible to achieve the new higher performance target for the full year. The targets were however achieved within Quarter Four and there was therefore confidence that the targets would be met in 2019/20.

Councillor Alan Macro referred to the project to establish the Joint Venture with Sovereign Housing and queried when this would begin to provide homes. Councillor Cole explained that the Joint Venture was nearing its conclusion. Subject to the receipt of legal advice, it could be signed off by the Chief Executive under delegated powers. Once this had happened, the plan to deliver new homes could progress relatively quickly.

Councillor Macro noted that a review of the Housing Service was being undertaken and asked when the review was due for completion and when the implementation of any recommendations would therefore commence. Councillor Cole explained that a peer review was held in early July 2019. The report was received on 24 July 2019 and consideration of the findings of this report and the implementation of its recommendations would therefore commence. This was being led by the recently appointed Housing Service Manager.

Councillor Macro drew attention to the exception report for relieving or preventing homelessness. The Quarter Four performance of 41% was some way short of the 75% target. Recruitment difficulties were highlighted and Councillor Macro queried plans to resolve these. Councillor Cole acknowledged that performance in assessing the increased number of people presenting as homeless, following the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act, and requiring a Personal Housing Plan had decreased due to staff sickness and problems recruiting. Efforts were ongoing to resolve these.

Councillor Macro felt there was an inconsistency in the report that needed to be clarified. Paragraph 2.3 (6) (c) stated that work was on track in relation to submitting a new Local Plan and a Minerals and Waste Plan for Examination. However, page 40 of the agenda pack stated that the submission of both these documents was behind schedule. Councillor Cole acknowledged that work on the new Local Plan was currently behind schedule, however it was still anticipated that the consultation, which would incorporate the Minerals and Waste Plan, would take place as per the timetable.

Councillor Owen Jeffery voiced a concern at required timeframes for reviews for ASC clients with long term support not being met. This meant there were instances where an individual was not receiving the required level of care until the review was held, impacting on the individual. It was also the case that timely reviews could identify a reduced level of need and the potential to reduce the care package and its cost. Councillor Jeffery sought reassurance that both these instances were being avoided.

Councillor Jeffery questioned the point made that DToC was more of an issue within hospitals on the healthcare side. If clear care pathways had not been established by the Council then this could result in patients having to remain in hospital or swiftly return to hospital.

Councillor Bridgman responded to these two points. Evidence from reviews of long term care packages highlighted that the level of need would more likely increase rather than decrease and thereby increase costs. However, regardless of this point, he acknowledged that reviews, which were a duty of the Care Act, should be conducted in a timely manner.

On DToC, Councillor Bridgman agreed to provide a chart to Councillor Jeffery which gave a breakdown of the number of delayed days and their causes. This demonstrated that causes were more often health related.

Councillor Carolyne Culver noted that the performance of pupils eligible for FSM at the Early Years Foundation Stage and the support they could be provided with to improve was impacted by the very small number of pupils in this cohort. She questioned if the same issues would apply to a larger group. Councillor Lynne Doherty advised that it was more straightforward to deliver support to a larger cohort as an intervention could be delivered to an entire class. This was much more difficult to provide for a small cohort within a class as they would need to be taught in a different way to the rest of the pupils. This would often have to be delivered to the small group outside of their classroom.

In response to a question from Councillor Culver in relation to the target and performance in completing affordable homes, Councillor Cole explained that the target for 1,000 completions for the period covering 2015 to 2019 was a commitment within the Conservative Manifesto of 2015. In total, 615 affordable homes had been built in West Berkshire in that timeframe. There was also extant planning permission for a further 800 units which had yet to be built out.

Councillor Erik Pattenden queried the absence of a responsible officer against seven of the indicators which fell within the strategic priorities of improving educational attainment and closing the educational attainment gap. The Council was ranked in the fourth quartile for some of these indicators. Councillor Boeck explained that the post had been vacant, but it had been filled and the appointee would soon commence in the role.

Councillor Pattenden acknowledged that ambitious targets had been set. However, he questioned the Council’s low national ranking against some indicators and whether a shortage of resource was a contributing factor in the ranking. Councillor Pattenden particularly highlighted ‘% of pupils eligible for FSM achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) at Foundation Stage’ where the Council was ranked 150/152. Councillor Boeck stated that performance against this indicator had been acutely observed, but a number of measures were in place to address this and improve performance. This was part of a long term programme.

Councillor Doherty added that this was of particular concern and, as already referenced, this was a continued focus of the new Council Strategy. As indicated by Councillor Boeck, a number of approaches were being taken as there was not a one size fits all solution. It was also the case that performance fluctuated in this area through the year and time needed to be taken to assess a child’s needs when they were new to the Foundation Stage. This was an area of focus for schools, but there were wider societal issues to address for what was a national issue.

Councillor Pattenden sought assurance that additional focus to improve performance in one area would not result in a decrease in performance elsewhere. Councillor Boeck advised that all possible efforts would always be made to improve performance and improvements in one area would not be at the expense of another area.

RESOLVED that:

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

·         Those areas reported as ‘red’, as detailed in Appendix F, had been reviewed to ensure that appropriate actions were in place, especially for the measures relating to the Superfast Broadband Project for West Berkshire and the number of bed days due to DToC.

·         The following areas be referred for further analysis at the Overview and Scrutiny Management Commission (OSMC). Namely, the results and improvement actions for:

(a)     the education attainment for Free School Meals cohorts,

(b)     the timeliness of reviews of ASC clients with Long Term Support,

(c)     the homelessness prevention and alleviation, and

(d)     a number of measures reported under the Protecting Children core business.

·         The increasing concern in 2018/19 regarding safeguarding and quality relating to some Adult Social Care providers be noted.

Reason for the decision: report quarter four outturns for the Key Accountable Measures (KAMs) which monitor performance against the 2018/19 Council Performance Framework.

Other options considered: n/a

Supporting documents: