Agenda item

Purpose: To consider a revised methodology and data set for inclusion in the performance monitoring framework for the 2022/23 Financial Year and to provide assurance that the priorities set out in the Public Protection Service Delivery Plan 2021 to 2023 are being managed effectively and to ensure that strong performance is maintained for business as usual activity.

Moira Fraser, Principal Officer – Policy & Governance, introduced the report (Agenda Item 10) which was brought before Members as agreed at the December meeting. The report asked the Committee to consider a revised set of Key Performance Indicators and Measures of Volume for inclusion in the Performance Monitoring Framework for the 2022/23 Financial Year. The report also gave assurance that the priorities set out in the Public Protection Service Delivery Plan 2021 to 2023 were being managed effectively and that strong performance was maintained for business as usual activity.

Moira Fraser said that the two measures required under the Inter-Authority Agreement relating to Finance and Customer Satisfaction had been retained and it was also agreed that the Performance Monitoring Framework would be reviewed to ensure that it supported the revised Delivery Plan and the PPP Strategic Assessment which was agreed by the JPPC in June 2021.

The Joint Management Board considered the data on a monthly basis and quarterly reports would continue to be brought to this meeting. Members were asked to consider if they thought the framework covered all the aspects they would wish to see included or if there were any additional areas, measures or targets they would like to see. 

Councillor Graham Bridgman said some key performance indicators were straightforward, such as the timeframe in which to submit a report. However, there were a number of percentage parameters and Councillor Bridgman asked how it would be possible to obtain KPIs around those without first understanding the amount that was targeted to achieve. Councillor Bridgman said that the large number of measures of volume needed to be meaningful by showing their percentage against a specific target. 

Sean Murphy advised that officers had sought to cover this off and used food inspections as an example of where the percentage showed the number of food inspections that had been completed in the year in which they were due. However, from looking at the report, it did appear that the KPIs needed to tie-up with measures of volume. He therefore agreed to this at this further as suggested by Councillor Bridgman.

Mr Murphy said the other key question was which of the KPIs from the extensive list did the Committee particularly want to see and suggested this could be re-visited in the June meeting. Councillor John Harrison said if KPIs were going to be set, more discussion was needed to decide whether to look at a certain percentage or to look at a particular volume of something and what the intended target was. For example, in relation to fly-tipping, how many had led to the identification of the perpetrator or how many had led to a prosecution. Councillor Harrison suggested Officers could look at this over the coming months for further discussion at the June meeting. Moira Fraser suggested holding a workshop with Members outside of the meeting before bringing the results back to the June Committee. Councillor Harrison agreed and stated it was important for colleagues in Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire to collaborate to decide which KPIs were important to focus on. Sean Murphy said the purpose of the KPIs was to see year-on-year improvement in the different areas, for example, test purchases for alcohol which had showed low levels of compliance when first carried out many years ago but which saw much higher levels of compliance now.

Councillor Harrison recommended that the Committee continued to review this issue and undertake further work prior to the next meeting. The motion was carried. 

Councillor Harrison concluded the meeting by thanking Members for their attendance and noting that this was the last meeting that Wokingham Members and Officers would be attending in a formal capacity. He thanked them for their work and collaboration over the years. Wokingham Members would be invited to attend future meetings to discuss relevant items albeit that they would not be attending in a voting capacity.

Councillor Harrison added that this was his last meeting in the Chair and thanked everyone for their help and support over the past year. The next meeting would be held on 13 June 2022.