AGENDA ITEM NO.
1.
REPORT TO:
Executive Board
REPORT NO:
CFPO/77/05
DATE:
20 September 2005
LEAD MEMBER:
Councillor Alun Jenkins (Finance & Performance)
LEAD OFFICER:
Chief Finance & Performance Officer
CONTACT OFFICER:
Ian Blythin (292253)
SUBJECT:
Performance Monitoring 2005/06 – Quarter 1
WARD:
N/A
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
To outline the process for monitoring performance and to identify progress on the Corporate
Priorities for the period April – June 2005.
2.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.1
The publication of the Improvement Plan in June highlighted the need for wider involvement
of officers and members in monitoring performance against the Council’s corporate priorities.
Consequently, a process has been developed which includes Lead Members, Scrutiny
Members, Strategic Management Team, Chief Officers and the Performance and
Improvement Unit in monitoring our performance on a quarterly basis. This process is
attached at Appendix 1.
2.2
This report also provides monitoring information for Quarter 1 (1 April – 30 June 2005),
towards achieving the corporate priorities declared in the Council’s Improvement Plan
(Appendix 2).
2.3
Each of the 14 corporate priorities has a number of associated outcomes as stated in the
Improvement Plan. An evaluation has been made against each of the 36 outcomes on
whether they are ‘on track’, ‘slightly off track’ or ‘significantly off track’. These are
identified in Appendix 3.
Analysis of the 36 outcomes identifies the following
On track
Slightly off track
Significantly off track
Too early to tell
22
1
2
11
2
2.5.
The two outcomes which have been identified as significantly off track are:'Improve Performance of Schools' which is outcome 2 of the priority to Improve
Educational Standards and Attainment. The outcomes in this category are:




Percentage of primary school pupils achieving the core subject indicator (teacher
assessment) at Key Stage 2.
Average external qualifications points score per pupil.
Percentage of schools judged as Grade 2 or above (good and very good) for “How well do
learners achieve?” In the new Estyn Common Inspection Framework.
Percentage of secondary schools in the top two bench marking quartiles for the
percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more GCSE grades A* - C.
Although full cross Wales comparative school performance data will not be available until
Quarter 2, early indications are that 2 of the 4 outcomes above will be met. GCSE
performance is a continued cause for concern in some secondary schools.
'Ensure choice and availability of high quality and cost-effective social care services',
which is outcome 2 of the priority to Improve Social Services based on Joint Review.
The first outcome in this category is to ensure the percentage of key performance indictors
(relating to Social Services) that are in top quartile is greater than 50%. This clearly
demonstrates the Council’s performance in this area in comparison with other local
authorities. Very early indications are that the Council will not achieve this although this is
clearly an outcome which depends on the performance levels of other councils.
The second element in this category is that “home care unit costs of effective social services”
reduces by greater than 3%. More work is required to identify these efficiency savings.
The eleven outcomes where Quarter 1 is too early to make an evaluation are mainly
associated with Strengthen Community Cohesion and Reduce Crime and Fear of Crime.
3.
RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1
That Members note the process for monitoring the performance of the Council’s
corporate priorities identified in Appendix 1.
3.2
That progress to date in achieving our corporate priorities is noted and that the issues
associated with the outcomes identified at para. 2.5 are explored further with the
appropriate Lead Member.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
The Improvement Plan is a statutory document and the Council’s progress against the
improvement plan is audited and reported on by the Wales Audit Office. The Plan outlines
how the Council is going to deliver its corporate priorities and consequently a rigorous
monitoring system which highlights any exceptions is essential.
Mark Owen
Chief Finance & Performance Officer
3
4.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
4.1.
It is a statutory requirement each year for the Council to undertake performance monitoring,
evaluation and reporting on the information published in our Improvement Plan.
4.2.
Arrangements to ensure this happens have been in place for a number of years which include
quarterly reporting to senior management and Members on progress in delivering priorities
and bi-monthly, half yearly and annual reports to Executive Board on selected performance
indicators. These arrangements are underpinned by the detailed monitoring and evaluation
work carried out by departments and used by chief officers on an ongoing basis as part of
good management practice.
4.3.
Each year the arrangements are refined to reflect any changes in legislation, the content of the
Plan and learning and good practice.
4.4.
There have been some changes to the content of the Improvement Plan for 2005/06, notably
the statutory National Assembly for Wales Performance Indicators (NAWPIs) have been
replaced by the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) and the focus of the
Improvement Plan this year is on the Council’s 14 Corporate Priorities rather than by
department.
4.5.
The arrangements for 2005/06 have been refined to strengthen the monitoring, evaluation and
reporting on the 14 Corporate Priorities to reflect the change from NAWPIs to PMF and to
enable effective Member involvement in performance monitoring.
4.6.
In summary the arrangements for 2005/06 are:
Quarterly reporting of progress in achieving the 14 Corporate Priority Outcomes:
 Presentations by Chief Officers to Leader and Lead Members on progress in delivering
Corporate Priority Outcomes
 Reports to Scrutiny Committees on their basket of PMF indicators
 Exception Report to SMT and Executive Board on overall performance in delivering
Corporate Priority Outcomes and PMF indicators
4.7.
Half yearly reporting on progress of other Departmental priorities contained in Service
Management Plans:
 Exception Report to SMT and Executive Board on overall performance in delivering
other Departmental priority outcomes
4.8.
The existing bi-monthly, half yearly and annual reports on Performance Indicators are
replaced by the above arrangements.
5.
CONSULTATION
5.1
Consultation is deemed to be inappropriate in this instance.
6.
SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMENTS
6.1
The Finance & Performance Scrutiny Committee will be considering the process of
monitoring and the overall Quarter 1 position at its meeting on 29 September 2005. In
addition all other scrutiny committees will be receiving details of their basket of PMF
indicators at the end of September/early October.
4
7
IMPLICATIONS
7.1
Policy Framework
Framework.
7.2
Budget This report and the recommendation do not require any budgetary decisions.
7.3
Legal There are no legal implications.
The Improvement Plan is a key element of the Council’s Policy
BACKGROUND PAPERS
1. Improvement Plan 2005/06
CFPO/54/05
LOCATION
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