Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Barbara Smith, Lead Member for Modernising and Performance (copy enclosed) which provides an update on the delivery of the Corporate Plan 2012-17 at the end of quarter 4, 2012-13.

RESOLVED - that Cabinet:-

(a)          receives the report and notes Members comments, and

(b)          requests that CRM investigate any correlation between fly tipping incidents and locations in relation to collection provision and times.

Councillor Barbara Smith presented the report, circulated previously, which provided an update on the delivery of the Corporate Plan 2012-17 at the end of quarter 4, 2012-13 and presented a summary of each outcome in the Corporate Plan. 

The report indicated that good progress had been made in delivering the Corporate Plan and that there was an understanding of the reasons why some elements of the Plan still require improvement.  It was important to note that the report still concerns the first year of our 5-year Corporate Plan, and that some elements of the plan had been included specifically as needing improvement.  Some areas for improvement would take longer to achieve than others, and the Corporate Improvement Team had worked with Heads of Service and Lead Members to clarify the ambitions for the Plan, and what the expected improvement journey looked like.  This work was almost complete and the conclusions had been incorporated into the analysis within this report.

A number of areas highlighted as red within the report indicated that some indicators and performance had been identified as a “priority for improvement”.  Some activities had been allocated the lowest possible delivery confidence by the responsible officer and the areas following areas had been summarised in the report:-

·                     The percentage of pupils leaving school without an approved qualification.

·                     A number of performance measures within the education priority relating to mobile classrooms and deficit places. 

·                     Percentage of A and B roads that are in overall poor condition. 

·                     Work to formalise plans for dropped kerbs.

·                     The proportion of the adult population unable to live independently

·                     Instances of fly tipping in the County

·                     Percentage of reported fly tipping incidents

·                     Availability of private affordable housing in Denbighshire

Fourteen core Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) had been identified to benchmark with HouseMark.  The most recent data indicated that the Council had seven (50%) within the top quartile, which was the identified threshold for being a “priority for improvement”.  The ultimate ambition was to have all core KPIs within the top quartile.  The timely completion rate for performance appraisals was also a “priority for improvement”, as the current performance was 92.28%.  Corporately it had been agreed that anything below 95% was a “priority for improvement”.

The Head of Business Planning and Performance (HBPP) explained that the report had been considered by Performance Scrutiny Committee and the following areas of concern had been identified:-

-               Mobile Classrooms:– Programme in place to replace Mobile Classrooms.

-               Dropped Kerbs:– Highways Department to provide update in respect of progress.  The Chief Executive expressed concern regarding the reported lack of progress.  He explained that this was unacceptable and felt the matter could have wider implications and be perceived as a performance Management issue.   (AS to Action)

-               Fly Tipping:– The HBPP explained that there had been internal issues with regard to the CRM reporting process and clarification on this matter had been sought.  In response to concerns raised by Councillor Huw Jones, it was agreed that CRM be requested to investigate any correlation between fly tipping incidents and location in relation to collection provision and times.   (AS to Action)

-               Dog Fouling:– Councillor David Smith explained that the number of dog fouling penalty notices issued should decrease to reflect the impact of the process of educating the public to acknowledge the problem.

In response to a question from the Leader about how the impact of Corporate Plan priorities in the locality could be measured and reported to the Member Area Groups (MAG’s).  The HBPP explained that figures relating  to progress in respect of local activity had been published and this process would be reviewed.  The Chief Executive emphasised the importance of ensuring that the MAG’s retained control of their respective agendas, and that debate with the Chairs of the MAG’s be encouraged.

RESOLVED - that Cabinet:-

(a)          receives the report and notes Members comments, and

(b)          requests that CRM investigate any correlation between fly tipping incidents and locations in relation to collection provision and times.

(AS to Action)