Agenda item

To consider the attached report (FPM-014-2018/19).

The Performance Improvement Officer, M. Chwiedz presented a report regarding the progress report for quarter 2, 2018/19.

The Corporate Plan 2018-2023 was the authority’s key strategic planning document which laid out the journey the Council would take to transform the organisation to be ‘Ready for the Future’. The plan linked the key external drivers influencing Council services, with a set of corporate aims and objectives, grouped under three corporate ambitions.

A Corporate Specification for each year (previously called the Key Action Plan) detailed how the Corporate Plan was being delivered through operational objectives, with these in turn linked to annual service business plans.

The success of the Corporate Plan was assessed through the achievement of a set of benefits, each measured through one or more performance indicator, focussed on what the Council achieved for customers. The Leadership Team, Cabinet and the scrutiny committees had scrutiny roles to drive improvement in performance and ensure corrective action was taken where necessary.

The Performance Improvement Officer updated members on the following performance indicators;

M1.2 Number of ‘take-away’ restaurants signed up to ‘ Tuck In’ pledge – This had not met the target and the action to be taken was targeting premises in Waltham Abbey and NHS/GP surgeries to offer healthier takeaways and healthier alternatives.

M2.2 Number of days to process benefits claims – Processes had been changed and this should be reflected in quarter 3.

M4.3 Number of new residential properties built or acquired by the Council – The framework of new contractors for phases 4 onwards had been signed and sealed on 16 October 2018. 

The Cabinet Committee commented that the performance indicator for M4.1 Number of businesses who joined the ‘Buy with confidence’ scheme, may need to be reconsidered as it appeared not to be working and officers should discuss this indicator with the Environment Portfolio Holder, Councillor N. Avey. Also the target for M6.2 - Number of new jobs, was incorrect. Overall, depending on the quarter 3 positions, some of the measures may need to be reconsidered for future years.

Resolved:

(1)          That outturn position of Quarter 2 2018/19, in relation to the achievement of the Corporate Plan for 2018-2023 be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

The combined report brings together the performance of the Council against the Corporate Plan and gave a ‘clear line of sight’ for performance across the Council via the new benefits maps and performance indicator set. The benefits maps provide an opportunity for the Council to focus attention on how specific areas for improvement would be addressed, and how opportunities would be exploited and better outcomes delivered. It was important that relevant performance management processes were in place to review and monitor performance against performance indicators to ensure their continued achievability and relevance, and to identify proposals for appropriate corrective action in areas of slippage or under performance.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

No other options were appropriate in this respect. Failure to monitor and review performance and to consider corrective action where necessary could have negative implications for judgements made about the Council’s progress and might mean that opportunities for improvement were lost.