Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting held on 7th July, 2008 be approved as a correct record.

Matt Gladstone, Assistant Chief Executive, presented the submitted report outlining the new national indicator set containing 198 indicators introduced in April, 2008.

At this stage it was not possible to report on the vast majority of the new measures. The submitted paperwork identified the ownership of each measure, who would report on each measure, and where possible whether or not mechanisms were in place to facilitate such report, when the data and mechanisms would be available and whether the measure was included in the Corporate Plan and under what theme. Work was ongoing to provide the missing information, particularly with regard to when the performance data would be available.

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-

• monitoring/reporting arrangements

• need for baseline information

• assessment of new indicators later in the year

• identification of indicators by directorate, cabinet member and scrutiny panel

• aligning of the indicators to the Medium Term Financial Strategy and service planning

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

(2) That the indicators be broken down and highlighted in respect of the responsible directorate, cabinet member and scrutiny panel.

Matt Gladstone, Assistant Chief Executive, presented the submitted report indicating that, following on from earlier consultation on the general principles and approach to Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), inspectorates had now published their second joint consultation paper setting out more detailed proposals for CAA. CAA would be introduced with effect from April, 2009 with the first public reports published in November, 2009.

The report summarised the key elements of the consultation on CAA, including proposals on what the assessments would look like, how evidence would be gathered and how the CAA would be delivered. It also  highlighted the questions the Audit Commission was requesting responses to from local authorities. The deadline for consultation responses was 20th October, 2008.

The report covered:-

• changes made in response to feedback on previous consultation

• how CAA would be undertaken

• the Area Assessment

• the Organisational Assessment

• reporting CAA

• inspections and improvement planning

• CAA timescales

• next steps

• responding to the consultation

• initial views on issues arising from the consultation

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-

• CAA would evolve and would not be finalised when going live in 2009

• CAA would be less inspection and more self-assessment based

• focus would be on LAA, new 198 national indicator set, Corporate Plan, resources and delivery

• CAA would be more forward than backward looking

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

(2) That the summarised proposals contained within the CAA consultation document and the timescales for responding were noted.

(3) That a progress report be submitted to the next meeting identifying corporate areas to be considered, including use of resources.

Lorna Kelly, Corporate Improvement Manager, presented the submitted report relating to the above. The DOT Assessment was part of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) framework. DOT provided assurances each year about whether arrangements were being made to secure continuous improvement.

In particular, DOT :

• assessed the track record of achievement of outcomes during the previous year and the robustness and delivery of improvement plans

• helped keep momentum and focus in delivering improvement priorities

• signalled further support and improvement work

• informed audit and assessment programmes to ensure they targeted the right areas

• provided learning about good and poor practice to inform improvement planning

The deadline for submitting the Council’s self assessment was 1st October, 2008.

The report covered:

-                      process

-                      information requests from directorates

-                      timetable of key dates

Also submitted were :-

-                      DOT questions and key lines of enquiry

-                      DOT draft outline self assessment

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-

-                      reporting timescales

-                      inclusion of elected Members in the process

-                      potential all Member seminar

Resolved:- (1) That the draft outline self assessment and timetable and process for producing the DOT assessment be noted.

(2) That an all Member seminar on performance be arranged for the new year.

Lorna Kelly, Corporate Improvement Manager, submitted for information a briefing note relating to the above.

The information covered:

-                      how data quality was assessed

-                      current position

-                      what happens next

Resolved:- That the information be noted.

Resolved:- That the next meeting be held on Monday, 17th November, 2008 at 10.00 a.m.