Agenda and minutes

(The Chairman considered the following item in order for a place to be booked)

NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION SCHOOLS – “ENGAGEMENT AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS”  - 30^th November, 2006 in Birmingham.

Resolved:-  That approval be given for the attendance of one Councillor (at present The Deputy Mayor, Councillor P. Burke, or a substitute)

To consider the minutes of the last meeting and update any matters arising

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 9th October, 2006.

The following issues were raised:-

(i)                   Minute No. 26(2) Blue Badges:-  It was confirmed that this information had been provided to the Area Assembly Office.

(ii)                 Minute No. 37(2) Freedom of Information Requests:- Concern was again expressed that solicitors, consultants, commercial organisations etc using this legislation to request information at a cost to the Council Tax payer.  The Cabinet Member asked for a letter from the Council on this issue to be shared with the Local Government Association and the Chancellor.

(iii)                E-Learning:-  It was reported that the Corporate Training Section of the Council was already involved on the national steering group of the E-Learning Pool.

Resolved:- (1)  That the Executive Director, Corporate Services, ensure that the information re:  Blue Badges is provided for the Deputy Mayor (Chair of the Wentworth South Area Assembly)

(2)  That the Executive Director, Corporate Services, follow up the requested action in respect of Freedom of Information Requests with the Data Protection and Information Scrutiny Officer.

(3)  That the information in respect of the Learning Pool be noted.

(4)  That the minutes of the meeting held on 9th October, 2006, be approved as a correct record.

To consider the attached report of the Executive Director, Corporate Services

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Chief Executive, Corporate Services, detailing the performance of corporate Best Value Performance Indicators and Local Performance Indicators monitored by the Corporate Services Programme Area.

Particular attention was drawn to the following BVPI’s:-

BVPI 11c - % of top 5% earners with a disability

BVPI 12 – days/shifts lost to sickness

BVPI 15 – Ill Health Retirements

BVPI 16a - % of Employees with a disability

BVPI 17a - % of BME employees

BVPI 11a - % of top 5% of earners that are women:-  this had dropped recently as a number of key female staff had left

BVPI 11b - % of top 5% of earners from minority ethnic communities:-  details of in-house work around this PI were reported including, BME Group; Women’s Network.

BVPI 14 – early retirements (excluding ill health):-  reference was made to the impact on this PI of the early retirement of 41 teachers.

Reference was also made to five Local Performance Indicators re:-

-                      Payment of PFI invoices within 30 days;- failure in quarter 2 was due to problems receiving invoices via Royal Mail.

-                      Number of employees aged 16 to 24:- issues discussed included – image of Council jobs as a career; retention of locally qualified young people; possible development of a South Yorkshire joint venture.

-                      LPI’s relating to Legal and Democratic Services:-  reference was made to the pilot of home working of the Children and Families Legal Team.

Resolved:-  (1) That the report be received.

(2)  That the Executive Director, Corporate Services, discuss with the Head of Human Resources possible actions to encourage recruitment and retention of younger staff between the ages of 16 and 24.

(3)  That the Executive Director, Corporate Services, report to a future meeting on the pilot home working of the Children and Families Legal Team.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive, RBT

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Chief Executive RBT, detailing the progress and performance of RBT for the period September 2006.

The following aspects were highlighted:-

·        Rotherham Connect represented at the Rotherham Show

·        Design Studio – nominated Team of the Month

·        Streetpride 2 going live within CSC

·        HR & P on track with Job Evaluation work

·        ICT achieve 100% performance on SLAs

·        Power Shutdown a complete success

·        National award for Procurement from the CeDar National User Group and the submission of the Payroll Team for a national award.  Also Emergency Planning, involving RBT, had been shortlisted for Beacon status.

·        Procurement savings £176K ahead of plan (excluding construction)

·        The Benefits Service maintained it’s 4 star score with the CPA

A Service by Service Overview was also given in respect of the following:-

-                      Customer Service and Public Access:-

·        Abandoned calls:-  it was suggested that a technical investigation should be carried out into the work style where agents received calls at home.

·        Understaffing, sickness and recruitment problems:-  it was reported that temporary measures had been put in place.

·        A range of other reasons were put forward to explain underperformance.

-           HR and Payroll:-

·        accuracy of payroll team:-  4^th out of 62 benchmarked similar local authorities

·        % of enquiries resolved by front-line HR advisors over the telephone

·        no. of days/shifts lost through absence:-  this was at its lowest level

·        usage of YourSelf – now being used by schools

-           ICT:-

·        renewal of Schools Connect and Rotherham Grid for Learning

·        success of town centre power shutdown

·        mini-refresh

·        SLA’s reviewed and enhanced

·        Award of Team of the Month to the Design Studio

·        Shortlisting of the Head of Information Systems for IT Professional of the Year

-           Procurement:-

·        6 suppliers now live and sending in e-invoices

·        business case for Procurement Card was now signed off with a 3 months lead time to deliver a pilot

·        issues re:  BVPI 8 – undisputed invoices paid within 30 days

·        procurement savings with reference to construction savings

·        2006/07 Annual Plan now agreed and signed off

-           Revenues & Benefits:-

·        launch of joint working team between RBT, the Pension Service and Fairer Charging

·        new style Council Tax reminders and final notices, and review of style for Council Tax Bills

·        RB02/BV09 - % of Council Tax collected:-  explanation of the introduction, and impact, of 12 month payment option

·        Restructure of the Local Taxation Team

·        RB08/BV78(b) – time taken to process changes in circumstances

Progress against Corporate Initiatives:-

·        Equalities:-  achievement at level 3 of the Equality Standard

·        Investors in People:-  assessment in 20907

·        Consultation/Complaints:-  the Corporate Complaints Officer was now in post

·        Sickness:-  measures introduced to monitor long terms sickness absence

Resolved:-  (1)  That the information contained within the report be noted.

(2)            That the Chief Executive, RBT, investigate:-

(a)                the possibility of the employment of home based agents to receive calls at peak times.

(b)                the background to, and remit of, the Joint Team Board.

(3)            That the Executive Director, Corporate Services:-

(a)                continues to update the Cabinet Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To consider the minutes of the meeting of the Procurement Panel held on 16th October, 2006

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the Procurement Panel held on 16th October, 2006.

It was stated that this had been a very productive meeting.

It was noted that John Healey M.P. was to make a Ministerial Visit to the Procurement Team.

Reference was made to Catering Procurement and comments about producing food for local consumption and branding Yorkshire grown foods.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes be noted.

To consider any questions received from Elected Members

No questions had been received from Elected Members.

Resolved:-  That the next meeting be held on Monday, 11^th December, 2006 at 11.30 a.m. at the Town Hall, Rotherham.