Meeting documents

Date

March 2005

Reporting Area

Public Service Agreement

Lead Director

Peter Rowntree

2003/04

£m

2004/05

£m

2005/06

£m

Performance Reward Grant 100%

-

-

3.578

Forecast Reward (78%)

-

-

2.800

Pump-priming - Budget *

0.366

0.419

0.377

Pump-Priming - Actual/Forecast

0.123

0.384

-

UCA - Budget **

0.326

0.897

0.892

UCA - Actual/Forecast

0.083

0.333

-

1. Cost-effectiveness

Benefit of reaching the PSA stretch target:

B7 Increasing an 93index of cost effectiveness94 which is intended to show our performance improvement in relation to cost. Further details on the 34 indicators used to calculate the 93index94 score are available on request.

Issues and Actions

B7 The updated figures show that we remain well ahead of target.

2. Increasing bus usage / public satisfaction with transport information

Benefit of reaching the PSA stretch target:

· An additional 125,000 bus journeys (over the last 2 years of the PSA)

· Increase in satisfaction with public transport information (DETR survey 2000 was 34%)

Issues and Actions

B7 Following consultation last year we have now finalised, published and distributed our Bus Information Strategy.

B7 Actions undertaken to improve `satisfaction with public transport information' include:

- Production of 100,000 new Public Transport Maps, distributed to every B&NES residential address

- Production of new timetable leaflets for supported bus services

- Improved the range of information on our web pages.

- Purchased software to automate the production and presentation of our roadside timetable information displays.

- Purchased a laminator machine to prevent timetables fading and being water damaged.

B7 Work on the A37 Joint Quality Partnership bus route has been instigated, including new bus stops, new bus shelters, lay-by and pavement extensions.

B7 We have now ordered handheld data capture equipment in order to commence a programme of punctuality and reliability surveys of both commercial and supported bus services. The results of these surveys will be periodically sent to bus operators to help them improve their services.

B7 First are investing in a new fleet of 116 buses and the first deliveries have been made.

B7 Further deliveries are due up to June and then the last batch in October. This investment heralds a step change in the quality of local bus services. We are intending to launch a marketing campaign for bus travel early in the 2005/06 financial year, to promote the improvements in bus travel.

3. Older people's quality of life and independence

Benefit of reaching the PSA stretch target:

B7 2.5 more households (per 1,000 population over 65) receiving intensive home care

B7 64 more people over 65 receiving 5 or more hours of home care (6 visits per week minimum) for 4 or more continuous weeks during the year

B7 An additional 14 people aged 65 or over receiving a Direct Payment to spend directly on the service they want

B7 2 fewer supported admissions of older people to permanent residential/nursing care per 1,000 population aged 65 or over

Note: This part of the PSA has interim targets for the year-ending March 2005 which will result in payment of 20% of the performance reward grant when achieved

Issues and Actions to be taken

B7 After a steady increase over the past few years, the number of people receiving intensive home care has reduced. Ongoing investigations have revealed irregularities in last year's reporting which led in part to over ambitious estimates in previous reports.

B7 Recent changes to our eligibility criteria have also impacted on the numbers of people receiving home care. As reported in November, a substantial number of older people are able to purchase their own services, while others are willingly provided for by carers with relatively small levels of support from the Council.

B7 The Direct Payments figure is on target for this year, however it should be noted that very few older clients are inclined to take on the burden of managing their own care, with the responsibility of directly employing staff.

4. Improving secondary school attendance

Benefit of reaching the PSA target:

· 0.2% fewer half days missed due to authorised absence

· 0.1% half days missed due to unauthorised absence

Issues and Actions

B7 The DfES has recently issued guidance to LEAs on revised methods for setting attendance targets for 2007/8 (two years after our PSA agreement ends). Whilst this does not necessarily alter the prospects for meeting the PSA target it may mean that resources will have to be refocused on different schools.

B7 Similarly new DfES requirements on the collection of attendance data from schools will require the refocusing of resources.

B7 Ongoing work by Education Welfare Assistants (EWAs) to support individual pupils and their families to improve attendance. EWAs supporting primary school attendance by running Attendance Weeks in five schools.

B7 Support to secondary schools to promote high attendance using Attendance Award programmes, which will feed into Authority wide scheme to celebrate full and improved attendance.

B7 The addition of Penalty Notices to the range of strategies available for tackling poor school attendance has led to a rise in the number of cases in which some form of legal action is taken to secure good attendance. Training in the prosecution process has been provided to staff from the Education Welfare Service and Legal Services.

B7 Following a range of activities to support Key Stage 2 pupils in their transition to Key Stage 3, a conference on March 15^th will allow schools to hear feedback from national and local projects and share good practice on this subject.

B7 The secondary school absence rate for the two Autumn terms 2004 was 7.24%. This is an improvement of 0.54% on the 2003/4 full year return.

5. Young people leaving care - education and employment

Benefit of reaching the PSA target:

· 2 additional care leavers obtaining 5 or more GCSEs at A*-C

· An additional 15% of looked after children still in education, training or employment at 19

· 4 additional care leavers with at least 1 GCSE at A*-G or a GNVQ

Issues and Actions

B7 Identify options to mainstream dedicated support for looked after children's education from April 2006 when pump priming comes to an end in a context of tight budgets.

B7 Audit education plans within Pathway Plans for care leavers aged 16+ to ensure consistent high quality and continuity of education planning and support to age 21.

B7 Focus specifically on promoting participation up to and beyond age 19, which is the highest risk area of the three selected targets.

B7 Further improvement to monitoring and quality assurance systems.

6. Reducing vehicle crime

Benefit of reaching the PSA target:

· 135 fewer vehicle crimes

Issues and Actions

· Three new lighting columns erected in the central area of Newbridge Park and Ride, together with new lanterns on all the existing columns, has improved the lighting levels in the central area. We will also conform to the dark skies policy and be more environmentally friendly.

· Planning permission has been granted to introduce CCTV in Newbridge and Lansdown Park and Rides and agreement has now been reached with Somer Housing to erect an antenna on the roof of Balance Street flats.

· A3141,225 is due to be spent on CCTV for Newbridge and Lansdown Park and Ride. We are awaiting confirmation that the budget is available for the project - more costly than first estimated, with possible increase of A325k, although some of the other parts of this bid came in cheaper than originally estimated so there is funding remaining within the car crime reduction bid.

· It is also proposed to install CCTV in Bath Hill East car park.

· Vehicle crime in car parks is being successfully reduced because of the work of attendants and the success of Police in apprehending a major culprit. However, there is some evidence that success in car parks is shifting the problem to on-street parking.

7. Improving our local environment

Benefit of reaching the PSA target:

· Increasing the trade waste recycling rate from 0.56% to 3%

· Increasing the recycling rate at Household Waste and Recycling Centres to 38%

· Ensuring 95% of graffiti is cleared from public buildings within 2 days of reporting

· Improving visitor score for availability of public conveniences to 3.37 out of 5

· Improving visitor score for cleanliness of public conveniences to 3.70 out of 5

Issues and Actions

· The timescale for developing the new trade recycling infrastructure is dependent upon the Western Riverside master planning process, as the new infrastructure will be developed through the relocation of the existing Bath Household Waste & Recycling Centre. Timescales are unclear as yet.

· Review of trade waste collection function in hand, with a view to divesting and increasing the rate of collected materials.

· Waste arisings increases of 6% adversely affecting recycling figures; Consultancy funds of A320k from Defra WIP for HWRC improvement work-in-progress. Executive Member decision to introduce van permit scheme and limit the amount of construction and demolition waste that can be disposed of in January. Initiatives will be implemented 1^st May.

· Differential charging to be introduced at transfer stations from 1^st April to financially incentivise traders to recycle.

· Agreement reached with Exec members on expenditure of Corporate Improvement Priority 93Urban Public Realm94 monies to supplement graffiti removal operations.

· Comprehensive 14 point Public Convenience Improvement Strategy in progress; Project Board established to address evolving policy and funding issues. Automatic Public Conveniences scheduled for commissioning March/April 2005.

· Street improvements in Walcot to improve and sustain Bath City Centre. Issues and options plan, plus detailed specifications to be produced by March 2005. Improvements to be implemented in 2005/06.

8. Reducing fire-related deaths and injuries in the home

Benefit of reaching the PSA target:

· Reducing deaths and injuries in accidental domestic fires to 13.1 per 100,000

Issues and Actions

· Secondment of fire safety officer to the Housing Standards team within Housing & Supported Living is now in place.

· 93Chip-pan amnesty94. This scheme will result in chip pans, a significant factor in many house fires, being replaced with deep fat fryers - this is an ongoing exercise, however currently chip pans have been replaced by thermostatically controlled deep fat fryers.

· Spot testing of second hand furniture sold at retail outlets is now nearly complete, however there is a necessity to repeat a purchase due to a `fail' result being obtained - currently being undertaken.

· Publicise issues - this is ongoing. Recently involved chip pan fire demonstration adjacent to the Southgate Shopping Centre and on the Lower Bristol Retail Park, which were well attended.

· The spend of pump-priming funds is currently below expectations because 1) the chip pan amnesty was delayed to enable the launch of this scheme to coincide with the launch of the refurbishment of the fire station, 2) delivery of smoke alarms through Care & Repair have fallen short of expectations, and 3) we are still in negotiation with landlords with regard to some of the larger items of expenditure such as sprinkler systems.

9. Improving disabled access to sustained employment

Benefit of reaching the PSA target:

· 70 more disabled people helped into sustained employment

· 68 more disabled people helped into voluntary work

· 6 additional employers holding the Positive About Disabled People Award

Issues and Actions

B7 Employment Development Service and JobCentre Plus are now actively engaged as delivery partners.

B7 Alternative accommodation is currently being explored, potentially linking this project with a wider initiative or existing provision.

B7 Temporary accommodation secured with alternative accommodation currently being developed which will link the PSA with a wider initiative and existing provision.

B7 Original problems that were encountered with finding appropriate accommodation for the service have been resolved. It has been agreed by Commercial Services that the service will be located within Linear Way Industries to support the re-orientation of their work.

B7 An organisation has been selected through a tendering process to deliver a recruitment service to support disabled people into employment. This organisation has significant knowledge of local issues and specialisms in supporting people with mental health related disabilities.

B7 ELDP have been contracted on an SLA basis to deliver the day-to-day programme. They have been operating since mid-December 2004 and to date, have registered 55 people, averaging five new registrations per week. The services have had a total of 14 positive progressions since being in operation.

B7 The A38,000 (100%) budgeted pump-priming funds were unspent last year due to delays initiating the project and the re-planning exercise. This will be spent in the current financial year.

B7 The budget has been re-profiled and is now on course to be spent by the end of the PSA period.

B7 Marketing of the service has begun, with some excellent press coverage in the Bath Chronicle (27^th January 2005) and for an employer briefing (9^th February 2005). The employer event has led to a number of employer contacts for the Two Ticks Symbol, work placements and employment. An article has also been written for the March 2005 release of the Business Link newsletter.

B7 Monitoring and evaluation procedures are being developed for full monitoring on a quarterly basis. This will commence at the end of March 2005, with the complete report available in April 2005.

B7 Engagement with Jobcentre Plus is enabling a Policy and Projects Officer to engage further with and support employers showing an interest in the Disability Two Ticks symbol.

10. Improving health through sport and leisure

.

Benefit of reaching the PSA target:

· 100,000 more users at sports centres

B7 1,099 more people attending sports centres for an activity twice a week or more (exc. clubs and schools)

Note: This part of the PSA has interim targets for the year-ending March 2005 which will result in payment of 20% of the performance reward grant when achieved

Issues and Actions

· Investments have been made by Aquaterra, particularly with the new gym at Bath Sports and Leisure Centre which should significantly increase the number of visitors.

· Further investments in gyms at Keynsham and South Wansdyke Sports centres also targeted to improve attendances.

· Adjustments made to programming, particularly dry side (e.g. 5 a side) will increase volumes of users.

· A health and fitness magazine - `Motivation' (which was jointly funded between Active Leisure and Aquaterra) - was distributed to 150,000 households in Bath & North East Somerset and the surrounding area. In addition to the A315k contributed towards design, printing and delivery, we have funded a further A310k towards free swimming and health checks. The take up on these will be known by the end of March.

· Working with PCT on introducing Cardio Rehab stage 3 into the Leisure Centres. This starts February 2005.

· Following joint funding from the PCT a Healthy Lifestyles Co-ordinator will be employed in 2005 to work on an Exercise on Referral Scheme. This will be a pilot project in the first year.

· Chew Valley Sports Centre figures continue to increase following local promotional campaigns. To date, only A33,000 has actually been spent from the pump-priming grant. The remaining will be spent this year.

Cardio Rehab stage 3 in Leisure Centres A310,000

Health and Fitness Magazine A315,000

Free swimming vouchers A310,000

Free mini health checks A35,000

Survey (for target b) A35,000

Healthy Lifestyles Officer (joint funded by PCT) A315,000

Further Health initiatives and promotions A320,000

11. Better alternatives to bed and breakfast for homeless people

Benefit of reaching the PSA target:

· No families in B & B for more than 4 weeks

· 1,223 fewer total 93household nights94 in Bed and Breakfast

· 95% of decisions on homelessness applications within 33 working days

Issues and Actions

B7 Mediation service available for households threatened with homelessness.

B7 Develop a Homefinder scheme by Autumn 2004 - have now recruited staff to take on this role in recruitment process.

B7 Develop & implement a spend to save policy in relation to preventing homelessness by Autumn 2004 - currently in development.

B7 Implemented operational improvements in line with ODPM B&B task group guidance, such as credit referencing and increased use of home visits.

B7 The spend of budgeted pump-priming funds is below expectation due to the delay in appointing staff and a need to concentrate on the effective use of existing resources prior to commissioning additional services.

12. Improving library popularity and encouraging reading

Benefit of reaching the PSA target:

· 35,000 more visits to public libraries

· 5% more residents satisfied with public libraries

· 33,000 more books and spoken word items issued

Issues and Actions

B7 Outturn estimates for visitor numbers 04/05 have been reduced to reflect the impact of the reduced service during the refurbishment of Bath Central Library. The closure period is longer than originally anticipated, as the scope of the works were increased. The absence of People's Network, reference services, availability of study area and newspapers has resulted in a drop in visitor numbers of approximately 50%.

B7 It is anticipated that these will achieve target estimates once full services resume at our main Bath Central Library. Evidence suggests that newly refurbished libraries experience a significant increase in visitors. Aggressive marketing of the newly refurbished central library with its branding, zoned layout and dramatic investment in new stock will raise the library profile and lead to an increase in membership and increase in borrowing by existing library users.

B7 Saltford library is now fully reopened after a refurbishment and new branding and showed a performance improvement of 11% over the same period in 03/04 for January.

B7 With the availability of a new brand, an activity plan of consistent and professional marketing of services is planned to attract new audiences and increase usage of current members.

Performance Targets

No.

%

RED

2

7

AMBER

11

37

GREEN

17

56

NOT KNOWN

0

0

TOTAL

30

100

PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENT 2003-2006

Theme

Performance Measure

Base

line

03/04

Actual

PSA Target 04/05 target

04/05 estimate

Status

Against the PSA Stretch

PSA Stretch Target

2005-6

1. Improving cost-effectiveness

Cost-effectiveness index

100

104

106

110

Green

107.5

2. Increasing Bus Usage

Number of bus journeys (cumulative 2 years)

18.360m

19.38m

18.431m

Measured at end of year

Green

18.955m (set 2002 before new base line)

Percentage of population satisfied with public transport information

34%

37%

40%

Not measured 04/05

Amber

55%

3. Improving the quality of life and independence of older people

Households receiving intensive home care per 1,000 pop aged 65 or over

4.1

6.7

7.2

6.1

Red

8.5

Number of people aged 65+ who receive 5 or more hours of home care over a minimum of 6 visits a week for a period of four or more continuous weeks

444

489

499

527

Green

550

Number of people aged 65+ receiving a direct payment

3

6

15

15

Green

26

Admissions of supported residents aged 65+ per 10,000 to residential/nursing care

96.2

121.7

93.7

99

Amber

92

4. Improving pupil attendance in secondary schools

Percentage of half days missed due to absence in secondary schools

8.1%

8.0%

7.5%

7.8%

Amber

7.1%

Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised absence in secondary schools

1.1%

0.8%

0.8%

Amber

0.7%

5. Improving educational attainment for young people leaving care

Number of young children leaving care aged 16+ obtaining 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*-C (cumulative 2004/5 and 2005/6)

0

3

3

(03-05)

1

(03-05)

Green

4

(04-06)

Percentage of Children Looked After who are engaged in education, training or employment at the age of 19

30%

57%

60%

59%

Green

75%

Number of young people leaving care aged 16 or over with at least 1 GCSE at grade A* - G or a GNVQ (cumulative 2004/5 and 2005/6)

6

9

12

(03-05)

8

(03-05)

Green

16

(04-06)

6. Reducing vehicle crime

Theft of, or theft from, vehicles

3,766

2,892

2,965

Figures from Police at end of year

Green

2,520

7. Improving the Local Environment

Percentage of trade waste (including rubble) which is recycled

0.56%

2.16%

2.5%

4.3%

Green

3%

Percentage of household waste at Household Waste and Recycling Centres which is recycled

33.21%

36.5%

38%

35.8%

Amber

38%

Percentage of graffiti cleared from public buildings within 2 days of reporting

30%

65%

80%

80%

Green

95%

Visitor survey score for availability of public toilets

3.03

-

-

-

Green

3.37

Visitor survey score for cleanliness of public toilets

3.53

-

-

-

Green

3.70

8. Reducing the incidence of accidental fire-related deaths and injuries in the home

Number of deaths and injuries arising from accidental fire in dwellings per 100,000 population (mean over 2 years)

17.4

13.6 (provisional figure -final report awaited from Fire Brigade

14.5

N/K (figure for Apr-Sep 04 due with final report for 0304 from Fire Brigade

Green

13.1

9. Improving access to sustained employment to people with disabilities

Number of disabled people helped by the Council into sustained employment of at least 16 hours per week lasting at least 13 weeks

7

N/K

47

23

Amber

93

Number of disabled people entering into voluntary work of 8 hours or more lasting for 13 weeks or more

6

N/K

47

23

Amber

88

Number of employers who hold the `Positive about disabled people' award given by Job Centre Plus

7

1

14

14

Green

19

10. Improving health through sport and leisure

Number of visits to sports centres to participate in physical activity (millions)

1.048m

1,039m

1.100m

1.11m

Green

1.150m

Number of people attending sports centres, not with a club or school group, to participate in a physical activity twice a week or more

2,625

Not measured in 03/04

3,491

3,491

Amber

4,357

11. Reducing stays in bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless people

Number of families with dependent children or with a member who is pregnant in Bed & Breakfast accommodation for 4 weeks or more

13

30

15

9

Green

0

Total household nights spent in Bed & Breakfast accommodation

12,295

18,648

9,017

8,100

Amber

7,377

Percentage of homelessness applications decisions notified within 33 days

74%

82%

90%

91%

Amber

95%

12. Improving library services

Number of physical visits to public libraries

799,734

809,200

848,356

847,835

Green

875,281

Percentage of residents satisfied with libraries

64%

67%

75%

Not measured 04/05

Amber

80%

Number of books and spoken word items issued

972,842

899,514

1,021,482

854,447

Red

1,035,026