To report end-year performance for 2008-09 against the Council’s key indicators from the Corporate Plan 2008-11, the Local Area Agreement and the Herefordshire Community Strategy, and any other indicators where data is available against which a RAG rating or direction of travel judgement can be made.

The Committee considered the end-year performance for 2008-09 against the Council’s key indicatorsfrom the Corporate Plan 2008-11, the Local Area Agreement and the Herefordshire Community Strategy, and any other indicators where data is available against which a Red/Amber/Green rating or direction of travel judgement can be made. 

The report had been considered by Cabinet on 4 June 2009.  The Assistant Policy Officer presented the report.  He also informed the Committee of a number of changes to the printed report reflected in changes to the headline figures in the report. He highlighted the following points:

·              57% of key indicators (Corporate Plan, LAA and HCS) achieved target (32% last year); 32% failed to achieve target (36% last year).

·              57% of indicators have improved, compared with 60% last year; 39% have fallen back (30% last year)

·              20 of the 30 LAA indicators achieved Year 1 targets; 8 are currently behind target.

·              Performance highlights In terms of the Council’s key priorities, were set out at paragraphs 5-6 of the report.

      In the ensuing discussion the following principal points were made:

·                       Concern was expressed about performance against a number of indicators under the corporate priority of best possible life for every child.  These included NIS 61 (the timeliness of placements of looked after children for adoption), and 221a and 221b (the percentage of young people getting a recorded or accredited outcome).   The Assistant Policy Officer explained that although targets BVPIs 221a and b had not been achieved, Youth Services had been successful in engaging a larger number of young people in youth work than originally planned.

·                       In the updated figures provided to the Committee it was noted that a number of targets had moved from an amber rating to red (NI 60, 64, 65 and 67).  In a number of areas it was also noted performance was well below that in the previous year.  The Cabinet Member (ICT, Education and Achievement) commented on the need to note that some targets, some of which were set nationally were very demanding.  The Deputy Chief Executive said that the new performance management system, on which the Committee would be briefed, would provide Members with a clearer understanding of performance and put it in context.

·                       It was proposed that in continuing to monitor performance the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee should prioritise some underperforming areas, for example, safeguarding

·                       In relation to target 115, substance misuse by young people, it was noted that the response to a survey had been very low and the figure quoted was an average of neighbouring authorities.

·                       Performance against the health and wellbeing corporate priority was also questioned, noting that many indicators were red.

RESOLVED:

      That          (a)        performance for 2008-09 be noted taking account of the           Committee’s observations;

                                                (b)       in continuing to monitor performance the Children’s     Services Scrutiny Committee should prioritise some         underperforming areas, for example, safeguarding; and

                        (c)        the observations on performance as set out above be                                                 reported to Cabinet.