Agenda item

To consider the Council Plan Performance Monitoring report for the second quarter of 2017/18 – July to September 2017. (30 minutes)

The Committee considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 27 to 36, which provided Council Plan performance data for the second quarter of 2017/18 (July to September). The report gave details of progress against 48 performance indicators and 19 key projects.

The report stated that the majority of indicators/projects (70%) were achieving the assigned targets for the year to date and were classified as “Green”. Another 15 indicators/projects (25%) were slightly off target and were reported as “Amber”. The remaining three indicators/projects (5%) were outside the Amber threshold and were reported as “Red”.

The indicators/projects with a Red rating were:

·           Percentage of child protection visits due in the period which were completed within 10 days of the previous visit.

·           Number of new businesses engaged with.

·           Shinfield Eastern Relief Road.

The report also highlighted a service area demonstrating improved performance with an explanation of the steps taken to achieve better outcomes. The service area highlighted was Homelessness with the indicator – Formal Homelessness decisions made within 45 working days. Performance against this indicator had improved from 78% in 2015/16 to 95% in the second quarter of 2017/18.

In the ensuing discussion the following points were made:

·           In relation to the indicator on child protection visits completed within 10 days of the previous visit, it was confirmed that the statutory minimum requirement for visits was 42 days. The local target of 10 days was very challenging. In fact visits completed within 15 days remained high (94.4%).

·           In relation to school attainment, the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee now looked at all schools causing concern, with local Members invited to attend the relevant meetings.

·           In relation to the indicators on school performance it was suggested that in addition to the percentage of schools rated “good or better” the report should include the actual number of schools involved.

·           Members noted the good news that the Shinfield Eastern Relief Road had finally opened. However, there was disappointment that the road would be closing again for further drainage works.

·           In relation to the indicator on staff turnover, it was suggested that the commentary include an explanation on the rationale for and benefits of a “healthy” turnover rate.

·           It was suggested that all indicators showing a deteriorating position should include explanatory comments in the commentary box.

·           Members felt that the layout of the report was improving, but there was still some concern about the time delay from the end of each quarter to the report’s submission to Overview and Scrutiny. It was confirmed that the report was submitted to the Corporate Leadership Team and the Member Executive Briefing meeting prior to its consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee. The Chairman undertook to discuss this process with the Leader of the Council.

RESOLVED That:

1)    progress on key performance indicators and major projects be noted;

2)    Member comments on content and presentation be incorporated into future versions of the report;

3)    Officers in the Homelessness team be congratulated on their success in improving performance relating to homelessness decisions;

4)    the Chairman discuss the potential for speeding up the delivery of the report, to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, with the Leader of the Council.