To approve the data quality action plan for 2009/10.

The Deputy Chief Executive introduced a report which outlined progress against the data quality action plan, which was recognised as a key element in supporting and demonstrating effective performance management and improvement within the authority.

Steve Martin, Corporate Policy and Research Manager outlined to Members the context within which information in the report should be considered, including the data quality action plan, attached as an appendix to the report.  Cabinet was advised that auditors continued to view the Council’s performance  on data quality to be adequate. The authority was aiming to achieve good and, ultimately, excellent performance, for which the improving current position, including the action plan, provided a firm foundation on which to deliver further improvement.

The Corporate Policy and Research Manager drew Members’ attention to the following specific issues of note:

• 62% of the actions outlined in the action plan had been completed, while 85% had either been completed or started; this left 15% that had yet to commence. 
• Procedures on data quality were continuing to be embedded within the authority; this would be of key importance in order that performance improvement could be monitored and informed decisions made regarding areas which might require additional attention.  Members were advised that the existing data quality policy itself remained fit for purpose, and that what mattered now was its full and consistent implementation across the organisation.
• Achieving this, and completing the action plan successfully, depended primarily on two key matters being attended to: the identification and rationalisation  of existing policies and procedures relevant to data quality in all directorates and services; and concluding work to improve the contract register. An important foundation had been laid with the designation in each service of a named officer responsible for contract management.

Responding to a question regarding expected items of information that had been missing from earlier performance reports, the Corporate Policy and Research Manager stated that there were two primary reasons for their absence; firstly, that the information was, for good reason, not available at a particular point in time (for example because it depended on the results of a periodic survey) but would be in the future; or secondly, that the information had simply not been provided, which was plainly a matter requiring management action.  Members were advised that, despite reminders, not all partners had yet co-operated where that was necessary to achieve items in the action plan.  It was recognised that this situation needed to be rectified and would be escalated where necessary.  Members expressed a strong view that  partners who were not co-operating needed to understand better how their data contributed to the wider picture and the importance of submitting timely, quality data.

The Deputy Chief Executive, responding to a concern raised regarding several revisions to original dates for actions to be completed, stated that the data quality action plan, whilst providing an excellent framework had turned out to be over-ambitious in its target setting, which had resulted in revised timescales having to be set for some actions.  Members were informed that there had been significant progress to date, but it was acknowledged that some areas of activity remained outstanding and required urgent attention.

A member referred to an instance in which the Council had apparently lost data from a survey and had had to ask people to complete the exercise again.

An amendment to the recommendation was proposed by Councillor JP French for consideration as an additional recommendation (c); ‘That the Deputy Chief Executive ensure that a review of the implementation of the plan is undertaken with a view to ensure its timely delivery’.

RESOLVED THAT:

(a)               progress against the 2008 / 09 data quality action plan be noted, and;

(b)               that Appendix 1 be approved as the 2009 / 10 action plan.

(c)               that the Deputy Chief Executive ensures that a review of the implementation of the action plan is undertaken with a view to ensuring timely delivery.