Agenda item

To submit a report by the Head of Profession, HR and Transformation.

The report of the Head of Profession (Human Resources) and Corporate Transformation incorporating the Corporate Scorecard for Quarter 2 2018/19 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Council Business reported in respect of Performance Management that the position at the end of Quarter 2 portrays a positive story with only 2 of the indicators underperforming against their annual target for the year. Both underperforming indicators relate to Adults’ Services details of which are given in section 2.4. 3 of the report along with the mitigating actions recommended by the Strategic Leadership Team. The performance   in terms of managing sickness absence has also improved on Quarter 1 although it is slightly below target compared with the same period for 2017/18. Adults’ Services and the Learning Service in particular have improved their sickness absence levels in the quarter and both services have been prioritised by the SLT for further improvement in Quarter 3. A sickness work-plan has been specifically devised to tackle primary schools absence and this is being implemented by the service. The Portfolio Member said that it is gratifying however to be able to report that for the first time in the last three years the number of Return to Work Interviews held within timescales  has reached target.  

Under Customer Service the number of registered App Môn users continues to grow with an increase of close to 600 users from the end of Quarter 1 bringing the total to 4,883 at the end of Quarter 2. There were 552 Freedom of Information requests totalling 3,899 questions by the end of Quarter 2 with 76% responded to within timescale. The SLT and Heads of Service continue to monitor the performance of FOIs closely.

The Portfolio Member referred briefly to Financial Management and the revenue budget out-turn forecast for the current financial year which predicts a £2.660m overspend. This will be dealt with in greater detail elsewhere on the agenda.

Councillor Dylan Rees, Vice-Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee reported from the Committee’s meeting on 23 November at which the Quarter 2 Corporate Scorecard had been discussed. In scrutinising the Scorecard the Committee had noted the following –

•           that the Scorecard is in its sixth year and that in this time to the process of gathering and reporting performance indicators in a co-ordinated way has evolved and matured.

•           That the performance against key national indicators was generally good with a few areas – specifically Adults’ Services requiring further attention. The Committee was clear about the mitigating measures recommended by the SLT to improve performance.

•           That sickness absence levels in Quarter 2 had improved compared to Quarter 1 but were not as good as for the same period last year.

•           That the Council continues to face considerable financial pressures. The Committee was clear about the need to monitor financial pressures in Social Services and the Learning Service which it noted will continue through the Finance Scrutiny Panel.

The Committee noted the areas which the SLT is managing to secure improvement into the future through the implementation of the mitigation measures outlined specifically in relation to Adults’ Services; attendance at work with particular focus on Adults’ Services and the Learning Service; financial pressures on Children’s Services, Adults’ Services and the Learning Service, and Complaints’ Management in Children’s Services. The Committee also recommended that an indicator for Planning Enforcement be considered for inclusion on the Corporate Scorecard for the 2019/20 financial year.

The Executive thanked the Corporate Scrutiny Committee for its comments. In considering the position with regard to performance at Quarter 2 as reflected by the Corporate Scorecard which it viewed as generally good, the Executive recognised the need to continue to monitor areas that are performing below target and highlighted Complaints’ Management by the Children’s Services as a particular area for monitoring especially in terms of improving the timeliness of written responses to complaints received.

It was resolved –

•           To note the areas where the Senior Leadership Team is managing to secure improvements into the future as those are set out in paragraphs 3.1.1 to 3.1.5 of the report and to accept the mitigation measures as outlined therein.

•           To accept the recommendation of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee that a performance indicator for Planning Enforcement be considered for inclusion in the next Corporate Scorecard for the 2019/20 financial year.