Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive.

Recommendations:-

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

2.    That consideration be given to measures which have not achieved their target and the actions required to improve performance, including future performance clinics

3.    That the performance reporting timetable for 2019-2020 be noted.

4.    That the achievements for 2018-2019 be noted.

Consideration was given to the report which detailed how the Council Plan was the core document that underpinned the Council’s overall vision.

The Plan set out the headline priorities, outcomes and measures that would demonstrate delivery of the vision. The process for monitoring performance against the vision was set out in the Council’s Performance Management Framework which explained to all Council staff how robust performance monitoring should be carried out.  

The Performance Report and Performance Scorecard included in Appendix A provided an analysis of the Council’s current performance against fourteen key delivery outcomes and seventy measures.  This report was based on the currently available data and also included an overview of progress on key projects and activities which contributed to the delivery of the Council Plan.  For this quarter, the report also included a summary of the Council’s achievements during the financial year.

At the end of the fourth and final quarter (January to March 2019) thirty-four measures had either met or had exceeded the target set in the Council Plan.  This represented 58% of the total number of measures where data was available or where targets have been set. This is the highest percentage of performance measures that the Council had hit for a number of years and represented a significant improvement in performance over previous quarters, as only 47%, 45% and 42% of measures hit their targets in quarters one, two and three respectively.

The direction of travel was positive for thirty-two (51%) of the measures calculated in this quarter. This was a deterioration compared to the 58% figure for last quarter and suggests that, although there had been an increase in the number of targets marked as “hit”, there were an increasing number of measures where performance was stable or worsening.

In terms of Priority 5 Councillor Alam confirmed that areas performing well or improving were around Performance and Development Review completions, reduction of agency costs, actions from the Equalities Review implemented, complaints closed within the timescale and number of transactions on line.

However, an area for improvement remained days lost to sickness per full-time equivalent employee which was off target at 11.4 days against a target of 10.3 days.  A range of activities and interventions to address the increase was in place and would be challenged by senior management.

In terms of Priority 3 Councillor Allen reported on the areas performing well or improving were around number of engagements, customer satisfaction and the number of visits to the Council’s Culture and Leisure Services.  It was also pointed out that for the first time in a decade the number of active borrowers from libraries had risen with customer satisfaction levels at 99.8%.

Grounds maintenance and street cleansing had received very few complaints, with the initial concerns being raised in Quarter 1, which were due to the weather.  The implementation of zonal working should make a real difference and would be a further way of measuring performance.  In terms of litter this was a baseline year and would be monitored quarter by quarter.

Councillor Lelliott reported on the measures in her area overall, with three improving performance, three with stable performance and three measures that had worsened.  Of those performing well the number of planning applications determined within the specific period remained at 100% and narrowing the gap of working age population with Rotherham above the national average.

The target for the number of new business started with help from the Council was slightly down.

Councillor Hoddinott reported on the good performance of the non-principal road networks in need of repair and the compliments received in Brinsworth, Hoober and Swinton as a result.

Reducing the number of repeat victims of anti-social behaviour had seen a big improvement, although public perception of anti-social behaviour was still high and did not reflect the downward trend in reported incidents.

The number of missed bin collections was an area for improvement, but it was anticipated this would shortly be back on track and monitored closely.  There had been some confusion around bin collections and which bin needed to be presented.

The number of customer contacts by service area had also increased, but this was due to the changes in the waste management process.

Hate crime had seen a reported increase of positive outcomes over the year.  Efforts to increase positive outcomes and the reliability of data would be challenged.

Councillor Watson reported on the positive reduction in the Children in Need rate and in the number of children subject to a Child Protection Plan.

Improvements were still required on the reduction in the number of Looked After Children and whilst other measures were performing well, this was an area that would be impacted on by the positive performance of others.

A target remaining stable was the target for 16/17 year olds not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETS).

Councillor Roche reported on the performance for the measures relative to Public Health, two of which were in Priority 1.  The first was around the smoking status at the time of delivery which had an aspirational target and since exceeded.  The quit smoking in pregnancy target was also rated green following interventions by the Quit Smoking in Pregnancy Team.

Childhood immunisations were overall green, but there remained a few pockets of low uptake in the Borough.

In terms of Priority 2 successful completion of drug treatment for non-opiate users performance had worsened slightly, but work was taking place with providers.

For Adult Social Care five measures had met or were exceeding targets, one was making satisfactorily progress and another had no baseline data.

The proportion of safeguarding adults at risk who felt their outcomes were met was positive reaching 99.05% during Quarter 3, as was the number of people who were provided with information and advice at the first point of contact.

Areas that required further improvement were the number of carers assessments completed and the proportion of people offered the reablement service are discharge from hospital.

Councillor Beck was pleased to report the number of new homes delivered during the year had increased, but this increase would continue in future years.  Work was taking place with developers.

With regards to the number of new homes delivered during the year via direct Council intervention, the measure allowed the Council to track the amount of homes delivered which the Council could actually influence.  This had been achieved against a year-end target of 109.  Officers were confident this target would be achieved, whilst acknowledging the Council had little influence in terms of housing growth within the private sector.

It was also noted that there was no stock “non-decent” by the end of the year against the target and the number of privately rented properties compliant with the Selective Licensing conditions within designated areas continued to be positive at 95.7% against a target of 95%.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the overall position and direction of travel in relation to performance be noted

(2)  That consideration be given to measures which have not achieved their target and the actions required to improve performance, including future performance clinics

(3)  That the performance reporting timetable for 2019-2020 be noted.

(4)  That the achievements for 2018-2019 be noted.