Vale of Glamorgan Council
Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
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  Agenda Item No. 12

 

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

 

Corporate Performance and Resources Scrutiny Committee: 21  March 2017

 

Report of the Managing Director

 

Target Setting for 2017-18

 

Purpose of the Report

  1. To present the proposed targets for improvement for 2017-18 for existing performance indicators aligned to Corporate Health priorities.

Recommendation

  1. That the Committee reviews and endorses via recommendation to Cabinet, the proposed targets for 2017-18 aligned to Corporate Health priorities.

Reason for the Recommendation

  1. To ensure the Council reports a relevant set of performance indicators against which it can demonstrate achievement of its Well-being Outcomes and consistently sets challenging yet realistic performance improvement targets for those priorities in line with requirements under the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009.

Background

  1. The Council's Performance Management Framework is the mechanism through which our key priorities and targets are monitored and realised.
  2. Following the changes to the Council's Performance Management Framework introduced over the past year, since May 2016 Committees have received performance information linked with the Council's Well-being Outcomes, with which the Scrutiny Committees are aligned.
  3. This report presents the proposed targets aligned with the Corporate Health priorities as outlined in the Corporate Plan 2016-2020. Appendix 1 outlines the proposed targets for the Corporate Performance & Resources Committee and includes all relevant performance indicators that fit within the remit of the Committee. Targets have been set for those performance indicators that are continuing into 2017-18.
  4. Target setting for 2017-18 is being undertaken earlier (at Q3) compared to previous years in order to align the process with service planning. This enables targets to be considered in the context of priorities and resources as outlined in 2017/18 Service Plans. In addition, the process for signing off targets has been revised. Previously, targets have been challenged by the Council's Performance Team, Corporate Management Team, Scrutiny Committees and Cabinet. This year, following sign off by the respective Sponsoring Director for each Well-being Outcome, targets are being reported directly to Scrutiny Committees for challenge and thereafter to Cabinet for ratification. This is line with the Wales Audit Office's Proposal for Improvement from its Corporate Assessment of the Vale of Glamorgan Council in August 2016.

Relevant Issues and Options

  1. The Council has a long standing commitment (as outlined in previous and the current Corporate Plan) to continuously improve the services it provides to citizens of the Vale of Glamorgan. However, the ongoing reductions in public sector funding will inevitably impact on the availability of resources, and in addition, external factors such as the wider economic environment, bring into question the realism of continual improvement in service performance. However, having taken account of these factors, the Council still seeks to establish challenging but realistic targets that are commensurate with the available level of resource.
  2. The Council's challenging approach to target setting emphasises this by ensuring that there is an assessment of performance trend data, our performance against previous targets and making best use of external benchmarking data (where this available). This is balanced against how much of a priority the indicator is to the Council and whether there is capacity to improve performance. All proposed targets must have an accompanying rationale that clearly explains the reasons for setting the targets at that level.
  3. Due to the timing of target setting this year, data is only available for quarter 3 for those measures reported on a quarterly basis. For those measures reported on an annual basis, proposed targets have been informed by previous years' trend data (where available) and estimated data as at Quarter 3. For some new 2016-17 measures which are collected annually, data will not be available until 31st March as services are establishing baseline performance so it has not been possible to set a target. These will be reported to Members once end of year data becomes available.
  4. As part of the target setting process for 2017-18, a review has been undertaken of the existing Corporate Performance Measures (CPMs) aligned to the Corporate Plan Well-being Outcomes and Corporate Health priorities. This has ensured that the measures in place provide the best representation of the activities/outcomes required and that data will be available on a quarterly basis for a set of key measures for each Well-being Outcome area thus enabling a balanced assessment of performance each quarter. The proposed measures and targets for 2017-18 have been considered by the Member Working Group on 9th March 2017 as part of the ongoing development of the Council's performance management arrangements.
  5. Appendix 1 outlines the proposed targets for the Corporate Performance & Resources Committee. Targets have been set for those performance indicators that are continuing into 2017-18. A number of indicator amendments and deletions are proposed for 2017-18 following the review of existing CPMs and Members are asked to endorse these.
  6. 32 Corporate Health indicators are proposed to be carried forward and collected in 2017-18. Of the 31 proposed measures for 2017-18, 4 have set targets to improve on the previous year's performance, 2 have targets that have been set to remain the same when compared with the previous year, and 2 have set targets lower than the previous year's performance. Targets have been proposed for 17 performance measures however, these were new measures this year which are set to establish baseline performance in 2016-17 and consequently no trend data is available to determine a direction of travel. Of the two new PI indicators for 2017/18, a target was not set for one new measure (CPM/219 which relates to the National Procurement Service Framework) as a new baseline is being established in 2017/18 following amendments to the definition. Targets were not applicable for five measures (CPM/212 and CPM/213 relating to long and short term sickness absence, CPM/229 - direction of travel of Corporate Risks, CPM/222 - satisfaction with services provided by the Council and CPM/076 - satisfaction with communications from the Council as these require data from a biennial survey, which is next due in 2019.)
  7. The consideration of these proposed performance improvement targets by Members is a key feature of the internal challenge process. Following review/endorsement by the Committee, these performance targets will be reported to Cabinet on 3rd April for approval.

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

  1. There are no additional budgetary implications arising from this report although failure to improve or achieve required performance in some areas may have a negative impact on external assessments of the Council and could put certain funding opportunities at risk.

Sustainability and Climate Change Implications

  1. None directly from this report. The Corporate Plan emphasises the Council's commitment to promoting sustainable development and our understanding of our duties under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. The many different aspects of sustainability (environment, economy, culture and social) are covered within the Corporate Plan as well as how the Council will maximise its contribution to the Well-being Goals.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

  1. The Local Government Act 1999, the Wales Programme for Improvement and the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009 require that the Council secure continuous improvement across the full range of local services for which it is responsible.
  2. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 requires the Council to set and publish Well-being Objectives by April 2017 that maximise its contribution to achieving the Well-being goals for Wales.

Crime and Disorder Implications

  1. None directly from this report. Activities to improve community safety are included in the Corporate Plan and one of the Well-being Outcomes is 'An Inclusive and Safe Vale' with a supporting objective 'providing decent homes and safe communities'. The Performance Management Framework will support the delivery of actions associated with these objectives.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

  1. None directly from this report. An Inclusive and Safe Vale' is one of the Well-being Outcomes in the Corporate Plan with a supporting objective 'reducing poverty and social exclusion'. There is also a Well-being Outcome 'An Aspirational and culturally vibrant Vale' with a supporting action 'valuing culture and diversity'. The Performance Management Framework will support the delivery of actions associated with these objectives.

Corporate/Service Objectives

  1. The Corporate Plan 2016-20 reflects the requirements of the Well-being of Future Generations Act and identifies 4 Well-being Outcomes and 8 Objectives for the Council. These promote improvements in the economic, social and cultural well-being of residents in the Vale of Glamorgan which in turn will contribute to achieving the Well-being goals for Wales.
  2. The Council's Performance Management Framework supports the delivery of all of the Council's Corporate Plan Well-being Outcomes and Objectives.

Policy Framework and Budget

  1. This is a matter for Executive decision.

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

  1. The information contained within the report is based on returns provided by service directorates to the Performance Team. An overall Council report on target setting for improvement will be considered by Cabinet on 3rd April 2017.

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

  1. Corporate Performance & Resources

Background Papers

Performance Management Framework, Report of the Leader, Cabinet, 25 April 2016

http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/Documents/_Committee%20Reports/Cabinet/2016/16-04-25/Reports/Performance-Management-Framework-Cabinet-Report.pdf

Contact Officer

Julia Archampong, Corporate Performance Manager

Officers Consulted

Rob Thomas, Managing Director and Sponsoring Director for Corporate Health

DMT Managing Director and Resources

Tom Bowring, Operational Manager Performance and Policy

Huw Isaac, Head of Performance and Development

Responsible Officer:

Rob Thomas, Managing Director and Sponsoring Director for Corporate Health