To consider performance for the period April-September 2009-10 against the Council’s key indicators and associated projects and programmes in its Annual Operating Statement 2009-10.

The Committee considered a report on performance for the period April-September 2009-10 against the Council’s key indicators and associated projects and programmes in its Annual Operating Statement 2009-10.

The report to Cabinet on 26 November was appended.

The Corporate Policy and Research Manager (CPRM) presented the report.  He noted that the format of the integrated corporate performance report had been revised, taking account of comments made by the Committee on 19 October and views expressed by Cabinet and officers.

He commented that performance against the affordable housing target now had better prospects and that performance against target NI 159 (Initial assessments for children’s social care carried out within seven working days of referral) had improved significantly and was now ahead of target.  On the other hand street cleanliness targets were not on track, or improving on the previous year, but remedial action was in hand.

There had been significant improvement in relation to the Local Area Agreement targets.  The majority of LAA indicators were on track, and remedial action was being taken in respect of others, particularly as regards healthier communities and older people, for which action plans were now in place or being developed.

In discussion the following principal points were made:

·         Concern was expressed about performance against a number of the education attainment targets as set out on page 28 of the agenda papers.  It was proposed that the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee should investigate performance against these targets in more detail.

·         Concern was also expressed about the provision of affordable housing it being observed that even achieving the target would only go a small way towards meeting the need for such housing within the County.  It was noted that the Adult Social Care and Strategic Housing Scrutiny Committee would be giving further consideration to this issue in the New Year. 

            The Director of Resources commented that the possibility of using the site of the former care home, Elmhurst, in Hereford for affordable housing was being investigated.  However, it would be important to ensure that value for money was obtained.

·         Further to questions asked by the Committee in October about performance against the local indicator on customer satisfaction the CPRM reported that he had reviewed the survey methods and was satisfied that the approach was robust.

RESOLVED:

That    (a)        the report and points raised by the Committee be noted; and

            (b)       performance against a range of education attainment targets as set out on page 28 of the agenda papers should be referred to the Children’s’ Services Scrutiny Committee for further investigation

.

(The Committee adjourned between 2.55 pm and 3.30 pm to discuss informally some of the outcomes of the change transformation programme 2009.  A number of change champions attended to present and discuss their work.)