Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report which confirmed how the Council Plan represented the core document that underpinned the Council’s overall vision, setting out headline priorities, indicators and measures that would demonstrate its delivery. Alongside it sat the Council’s Performance Management Framework which explained to all Council staff how robust performance monitoring and management arrangements were required to ensure effective implementation.

To ensure that the delivery of actions and their impact was assessed, formal quarterly performance reports were required to be submitted to the public Cabinet and Commissioners’ Decision-Making meeting, with an opportunity for pre-decision scrutiny consideration in line with new governance arrangements. This report was the fourth and final report in the 2017/18 reporting cycle covering quarter 4 (1st January 2018 to 31st March 2018).

The Performance Report and Performance Dashboard/Scorecard (Appendices A and B) provided an analysis of the Council’s current performance against 14 key delivery outcomes and 72 measures. This report was based on the current position of available data, along with an overview of progress on key projects and activities which also contributed towards the delivery of the Council Plan.

At the end of the fourth and final quarter (January to March 2018) 25 measures had either met or had exceeded the target set in the Council Plan. This represented 43.9% of the total number of indicators where data was available or where targets have been set. The direction of travel was positive for 32 (49.2%) of the indicators measured in this quarter. The Priority area with the highest proportion of targets met was Priority 4 (Extending Opportunity and Prosperity).

Members expressed disappointment at the failure to hit targets against priority measures relating to Children and Young People’s Services and sought assurances that a ‘Plan B’ existed to improve performance. In response, the Cabinet Member took an alternative view on the data supplied and considered that social workers were better supporting children and young people and outcomes were improving as a result. Reference was also made to the need for smarter working to help reduce costs and refine processes to work with families to keep children at home rather than entering care. Assurances were provided by officers in respect of the tests applied before children entered the care system.

Reference was made to the challenging target in respect of smoking reduction in Public Health and Members asked for information on the approaches being used to tackle the issue. In response, it was advised that it was an aspirational target that had proved challenging to meet. The new ‘Get Healthy Rotherham’ service had been launched in April 2018 and was expected to help make inroads to improve performance. Members reiterated the need to focus on preventing children and young people from smoking, which would further assist in improving health and meet the target in the longer term.

Clarification was sought of performance levels for information, advice and guidance in adult social care. In response, Members were reminded that it was a challenging year for the service which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Alam

Commissioner:         Ney (in advisory role)

Recommendations:-

1.    That the overall position and direction of travel in relation to performance be noted.

2.    That those measures which have not progressed in accordance with the target set and the actions required to improve performance, including future performance clinics, be discussed

3.    That the performance reporting timetable for 2017/18 be noted.

Consideration was given to the report which confirmed how the Council Plan represented the core document that underpinned the Council’s overall vision, setting out headline priorities, indicators and measures that would demonstrate its delivery. Alongside it sat the Council’s Performance Management Framework which explained to all Council staff how robust performance monitoring and management arrangements were required to ensure effective implementation. 

To ensure that the delivery of actions and their impact was assessed, formal quarterly performance reports were required to be submitted to the public Cabinet and Commissioners’ Decision-Making meeting, with an opportunity for pre-Scrutiny consideration in line with new governance arrangements.  This report was the fourth and final report in the 2017/18 reporting cycle covering quarter 4 (1st January 2018 to 31st March 2018). 

The Performance Report and Performance Dashboard/Scorecard (Appendices A and B) provided an analysis of the Council’s current performance against 14 key delivery outcomes and 72 measures. 

This report was based on the current position of available data, along with an overview of progress on key projects and activities which also contributed towards the delivery of the Council Plan.   

At the end of the fourth and final quarter (January to March 2018) 25 measures had either met or had exceeded the target set in the Council Plan.  This represented 43.9% of the total number of indicators where data was available or where targets have been set. The direction of travel was positive for 32 (49.2%) of the indicators measured in this quarter. The Priority area with the highest proportion of targets met was Priority 4 (Extending Opportunity and Prosperity).

Cabinet Members provided an update in accordance with current performance for service areas:-

Councillor Beck, Cabinet Member for Housing, confirmed the measure relating to number of new homes delivered during the year had seen an increase of 10% from the previous year with the delivery of 479 homes, which was 162 properties below target.  There were a couple of external factors why this measure had not been met, but it was hoped with the approval of the Rotherham Local Plan developers would be more confident in bringing sites forward.  A new indicator would be introduced next year that would more specifically measure and report the number of new homes delivery that were as a result of direct Council intervention.

In terms of Measure 4.B2 property standards were continuing to improve and all housing stock owned and rented to tenants by the Council now met minimum standards of decency.

87% properties eligible to register under the Selective Licensing Scheme have registered and 90% of these properties have been inspected to test landlord compliance.  94.2% of these properties are compliant with the standards set for private landlords renting accommodation in the Borough.

Councillor Roche, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, confirmed the data for 2.A1(a) and (b) was of concern and whilst it had seen some improvement, this was still outside the local comparators top quartile.  A new provider was now in place and work would take  ...  view the full minutes text for item 156