Agenda item

To consider the attached report (FPM-018-2018/19).

The Interim Transformation Manager, G Nicholas presented a report regarding the outturn position for Quarter 3 - 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 overview and scrutiny roles to drive improvement in performance and ensure corrective action was taken where necessary.

The Interim Transformation Manager updated members on the following performance indicators;

M2.1 Number of safeguarding concerns – The value of 10.34% had been incorrectly inputted and the actual target had been met and should have been 27%.

M1.2 Number of ‘take-away’ restaurants signed up to ‘Tuck In’ pledge – This had missed the target set for quarter 3, although officers were promoting the scheme.

M2.2 Number of days to process to benefits claims – It was now on target for quarter 3.

M4.3 Number of new residential properties built or acquired by the Council – This remained below target due to delays on the Council site at Springfield and Burton Road.

M9.6 Delivery of the Technology Strategy – This had missed the target in quarter 3 because of new projects being added, which reduced the overall percentage completed and there were a number of projects on hold.

M10.2 Annual Council Tax collection – This measure had marginally missed the target in this quarter, although the Business Support Portfolio Holder advised that payments were still chased after the year end and would improve.

RESOLVED:

(1)        That the outturn position for Quarter 3 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 gives ‘clear line of sight’ for performance across the Council via the new benefits maps and performance indicator set. The benefits maps provided an opportunity for the Council to focus attention on how specific areas for improvement would be addressed, and how opportunities will be exploited and better outcomes delivered. It is important that relevant performance management processes are 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.