Meeting documents

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 Council Performance Report by Cabinet Portfolio for the period April to July 07.

1.2 The Council generates performance reports showing performance by each Cabinet member from its performance management system.

1.3 This report shows each Cabinet member's performance divided into a narrative section and a section listing performance progress against all national Best Value performance indicators and key local performance indicators. These are the indicators that are published in the annual Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP). This section also highlights indicators that the Cabinet members and Directors agreed require focus as "key" indicators by listing them at the beginning of each portfolio & also using the word "Key" in their name.

1.4 The report includes a summary, by portfolio, of key achievements, issues, finance and risk for the period April- July 2007, plus an accompanying summary of the progress against performance targets, showing whether we are achieving target to date (`green', `amber' or `red') and whether we are improving or deteriorating since the previous quarter( < or ® )

2 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 Note the contents of this first quarter report for 07/08 performance and to consider in light of the corrective actions identified whether additional actions are required to improve performance.

3  FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 Contained within the report

4 COMMUNITY STRATEGY OUTCOMES

5 CORPORATE IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES

6 CPA LINES OF ENQUIRY

o Sustainable Communities and Transport

o Safer and Stronger Communities

o Healthier Communities

7 THE REPORT

7.1 We are a three star council and improving well. This is the verdict of the government's Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) in their annual judgement of all councils.

7.2 The overall council performance position this quarter shows that 60% of our performance indicators are meeting or exceeding their target (green). There are action plans in place for all areas where performance did not hit target.

7.3 We have now started our three year Local Area Agreement (LAA). The LAA sets out clear priorities for tackling crime and improving local environments, as well as improving health, the economy and services for children. The LAA will attract new funding into the area as well as providing ways for existing resources to be better used and will underpin how we work with other organisations in Bath & North East Somerset to deliver services. This report includes its "stretch targets", challenging targets that have been agreed with government that will bring extra funding if we achieve them. Our performance against our LAA stretch targets this quarter shows that 66% achieved target.

7.4 Latest achievements are included in the body of the report, highlights of main achievements between April - July 07 include:

7.5 The new Three Ways Special School has been completed to schedule. The new school will open to pupils in September. The school in Frome Rd Bath will cater for 150 pupils aged 2-19 with a range of learning needs. In addition to classrooms there are specialist rooms for teaching science, food technology, ICT and the state of the art facilities include a hydro therapy pool and a sensory theatre shaped like an egg, which is the building's most striking feature. The school also provides facilities for health and child care professionals enabling all the needs of the pupils to be met. At £12m approximately this is the single largest school project undertaken by the Council and will be a great addition to educational facilities in Bath & North East Somerset.

7.6 The Council's Property Services worked with Council Connect to convert Riverside reception in Keynsham into a new one stop shop environment. All building work has now been completed and the new facilities opened on 30th July as planned, providing the full range of Council Connect services.

7.7 Revenues and Benefits officers will now be offering a surgery at the Hollies every other Thursday for new claims and can be used for very difficult overpayments queries.

7.8 An unannounced inspection by CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspections) of Maple Grove, a residential provision for people with learning difficulties, took place in May 2007 and was rated as `excellent' - the highest score possible and was commended for its person-centred service delivery. Maple Grove is currently reproviding its service to become a supported living scheme and the CSCI also commended the work on the inclusion and involvement of clients towards this.

7.9 Housing Services are now implementing a new subsidised low-cost loan system under its Housing Renewal Policy. It is available to low-income older or otherwise vulnerable residents to carry out essential repairs for improvements to their properties and are provided by not-for-profit company, combined with the Council grant available that enables more people to improve their housing conditions

7.10 Marjorie Whimster elderly persons' home in Twerton closed after successful transfer of some of the residents and all staff, to the new Community Resource Centre "Cleeve Court". Other residents transferred to alternative community provision.

7.11 Major works on A36 Lower Bristol Road completed to budget and on time with excellent customer feedback

7.12 Highest ever recycling rates in May at 43% plus an excellent 72% at recycling centres. We are making further improvements by installing 3 mini recycling centres on the Kennet and Avon Canal with British Waterways and Tetrapak funded recycling banks for cartons in Keynsham for a 6 month trial. We are also receiving Recycling collection tenders under European tender rules

7.13 "Jam Busting June" aimed to reduce congestion by promoting car sharing, cycling, public transport etc. It was twice as successful as last year - 100 entrants per day, over 100 different employers with national media interest

7.14 Successful delivery of temporary Bus Station by Southgate developers produced positive associated publicity

7.15 Successful Taste of Bath on bandstand lawn in Royal Victoria Park over 10,000 visitors attended and there was excellent media coverage

7.16 Pump Room won Award of Excellence in the Tea Council's Awards of 2007

7.17 The council was represented at the Municipal Journal ceremony in London where we were short-listed for an award relating to our culture development programme using the Revenues and Benefits service experience to illustrate success. We did not win first prize, but it was an excellent achievement.

7.18 Following the success of our weekly residents e-newsletter Inform, which enjoys a current subscription level of 16,000 and is continually increasing, we have launched a monthly business e-newsletter that provides relevant information to the area's business community.

7.19 Fosse Way School Phase 1 and Combe Down Primary School to feature in the Society of Chief Architects in Local Authorities (SCALA) yearbook for quality of architectural design by in-house team. This is the first year that Property Services have submitted designs and to have both submissions chosen out of just 250 featured is a great achievement.

7.20 Following Bath Press announcement of `proposal of closure', Economic Development have facilitated an inter-agency approach to manage closure and consequent job losses agreed with the company. To include Job Centre Plus, Business West and other key partners - Outcome of company staff and union consultation awaited.

7.21 Highlight of key issues and risks identified this quarter:

7.22 Vacancy management rules are in place, with detailed scrutiny of how vacant posts are managed

7.23 Need to review disaster recovery and business continuity plans

8 RISK MANAGEMENT

8.1 The report author and Cabinet have fully reviewed the risk assessment related to the issue and recommendations, in compliance with the Council's decision making risk management guidance.

8.2 There is a risk relating to the Council's Comprehensive Performance Assessment score and overall star rating if performance targets, set in line with local and national priorities, are not achieved.

9 RATIONALE

9.1 This report is a key part of the Council's performance management framework

10 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

10.1 None

11 CONSULTATION

11.1 Consultation has been carried out with Cabinet Members, Section 151 Finance Officer; Chief Executive; Monitoring Officer and other Strategic Directors through existing meeting schedules.

12 ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN REACHING THE DECISION

12.1 Social Inclusion; Customer Focus; Sustainability; Human Resources; Property; Young People; Equality (age, race, disability, religion/belief, gender, sexual orientation); Human Rights; Corporate;

13 ADVICE SOUGHT

13.1 Directors' Group including the Council's Monitoring Officer (Council Solicitor) and Section 151 Officer (Strategic Director Support Services) have had the opportunity to input to this report and have cleared it for publication in agreement with Cabinet members.