Agenda item

(CSP:1,2,3,4 and 9 )

Purpose:  To report quarter three outturns against the key accountable measures and activities contained in the 2013/14 Council performance framework and to report by exception those measures / activities, not achieved or behind schedule and cite remedial action taken and the impact it has had.

Resolved that:

1.         Progress against the key accountable measures and activities contained in the Council’s Performance Framework be noted.

2.         Those areas reporting as ‘amber’ or ‘red’ be reviewed to ensure that appropriate corrective or remedial action is put in place.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·      Report is to note only

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 10) concerning the quarter three outturns against the key accountable measures and activities contained in the 2013/14 Council Performance Framework. The report also set out by exception those measures/activities not achieved or behind schedule, any remedial action being taken and the impact it was having.

Councillor Roger Croft reported that across the reporting framework as a whole, 47 key accountable measures and activities were captured. Of these, four were annual measures and three were unavailable at the time of publication. Therefore the Council was able to report against 40 outturns at the time of print. Of these 40:

·              34 were reported as green – on track to be achieved by the end of the financial year;

·              three were reported as amber – behind schedule, but expected to be achieved at year end; and

·              three were reported as red – unachievable by year end.

As in the previous quarter, a suite of measures in Education was being used to set a baseline for subsequent years. For completeness, these were included in the list of key accountable measures, although no RAG ratings would be ascribed this year.

As normal, the report began with contextual measures concerning the State of the District. Councillor Croft made particular reference to the good news that there was:

·                    a 46% fall in domestic burglaries;

·                    a 37% drop in the number of ‘working age’ Job Seekers Allowance claimants (those aged 16-64) compared to Quarter Three last year; and

·                    a 49% drop in youth unemployment.

The report then considered measures of volume for Council services. Of particular note were:

·              a 4% increase in the number of visits to library venues (both physical and virtual);

·              a rise of 6% in the number of visits to sports and leisure centres; and

·              a 69% increase in the number of Freedom of Information requests.

In comparing performance against the Council’s main strategic priorities:

·              Caring for and protecting the vulnerable had 23 reported measures; 15 green, three amber, 2 red and 3 unreported.

·              Promoting a vibrant district had 11 reported measures; six green, one red and four unreported.

·              Improving education had ten reported measures; all green.

·              Protecting the environment had three measures; all green.

Councillor Croft commended the report and asked the Executive to note the report and the explanatory notes.

Councillor Keith Woodhams referred to the measure which aimed to ensure that at least 75% of all works orders for permanent pothole repairs would be completed within 28 days of the order date and questioned why the 2012/13 outturn had yet to be confirmed. Councillor Croft agreed to provide a written response on that point.

Councillor Gwen Mason noted that data was not available for the safeguarding measures within vulnerable older people and adults due to technical issues with the system, and queried when this would be resolved. Councillor Croft confirmed that data would be available for Quarter Four.

Councillor Mason also pointed out that data was not available for the measure which sought to approve 95% of high priority Disabled Facilities Grants within nine weeks of receipt of full grant application and asked when this would be available. Rachael Wardell advised that efforts were ongoing with a view to providing this data in Quarter Four.

Councillor Jeff Brooks referred to the annual process of reviewing and setting key accountable measures and activities, during which a task group of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Commission (OSMC) had been involved in previous years. He queried whether the Executive would support the OSMC’s involvement in this process this year. Councillor Gordon Lundie advised that he was content for Councillor Brooks to discuss this directly with Councillor Brian Bedwell (OSMC Chairman) and added that it was not part of his role as Leader to direct the work of scrutiny. Councillor Croft added that he would be content with the OSMC considering measures which made sense for West Berkshire Council.

Councillor Tony Vickers referred to the proportion of upheld planning appeals, currently reported as red, which he was pleased to note would be considered in more detail by the Planning Policy Task Group (PPTG). He did however query whether these related to decisions made by Members against Officer recommendation. Councillor Hilary Cole stated that it would be useful to consider this in more detail at the PPTG. Officers were reviewing their decision making processes alongside those of the Planning Inspectorate as it was felt the Inspectorate had become more permissive in comparison to the Council. Comparisons would also be made with the situation in other local authorities.

Councillor Roger Hunneman referred to the measure, reported red in West Berkshire and as a national issue, which sought to maintain the proportion of older people still at home 91 days after discharge from hospital into reablement/rehabilitation services and questioned the number of people for whom this was not achieved. Rachael Wardell agreed to provide Councillor Hunneman with a written response on this point.

In response to a further query from Councillor Hunneman, Councillor Cole confirmed that the total number of visits to library venues recorded both physical and virtual visits. Councillor Hunneman felt that it would be useful for this measure to be split between physical and virtual visits, and Councillor Cole agreed this information could be provided in the future.

RESOLVED that :

1.            progress against the key accountable measures and activities contained in the Council's performance framework be noted;

2.            those areas reporting as ‘amber’ or 'red' have appropriate corrective or remedial action in place.

Reason for the decision: This framework compiles and monitors progress in relation to the objectives laid out in the Council Strategy and on key activities and areas of risk from the Council's individual service plans. In doing so, it expresses the purpose and ambition of the Council and by extension the Council’s main focus of activities and key measures of success against which we can assess ourselves and publicly report progress.

Other options considered: n/a.