To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors H. Bramer and W.L.S. Bowen.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 10th April, 2006.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 10th April, 2006 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider suggestions from members of the public on issues the Committee could scrutinise in the future.

There were no suggestions from Members of the Public.

(a)        The Council’s Overall Performance Improvement Plan

            To draw the Committee’s attention to the Council’s Overall Performance Improvement Action Plan and to the proposed arrangements for reporting progress against it to the Committee.

(b)       The Council’s Performance Improvement Cycle

            To draw the Committee’s attention to the Council’s Performance Improvement Cycle and to invite the Committee to continue to have regard to it in the development of the scrutiny programme.

(c)            Integrated Performance Report – 2005/06 End of Year Report

            To report: 

(a)   performance for the operating year 2005-06 against the Annual Operating Plan 2005-06;

(b)   the full set of Best Value Performance Indicators; and

(c)   the capital budget position and corporate risks.

(d)       Final Revenue Outturn 2005/06

            To note the final revenue outturn position for 2005/06 and associated issues.

(e)            Integrated Performance Report 2006/07 April-May Progress Report (To Follow)

            To report performance to the end of May 2006 against the Annual Operating Plan 2006/07 and the remedial action to address areas of underperformance.

(A) The Council’s Overall Performance Improvement Plan

The Committee considered the Council’s Overall Performance Improvement Action Plan and the proposed arrangements for reporting progress against it to Committee.

Councils are required to produce an overall performance improvement action plan following Comprehensive Performance Assessment, including Corporate Performance Assessment and Joint Area Review of Services for Children and Young People (JAR).  Following its Comprehensive Performance Assessment in the autumn of 2005, the Council produced the Action Plan set out at Appendix 1 to the report.  Following discussion with the Government Office for the West Midlands, the Audit Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection the action plan was approved by Cabinet on 27th April, 2006.

Reports on progress against the Overall Plan are being made on an exceptions basis to Cabinet as part of the normal Integrated Performance Report (IPR).  The first such report was included in the IPR to the end of May, and was the subject of a later agenda item.

The Audit Commission will be reviewing the Council’s progress in implementing the Overall Plan, initially in September 2006.

On scrutinising the Overall Improvement Plan the Committee noted the following principal points.

·         That as further performance elements were confirmed they would be added to the plan. This had already been done for the Children’s Service elements of the Plan, with particular importance attached to the indicators and performance against the targets that related to the safeguarding of children.

·         A number of local targets had been included so that significant over or under achievement against national comparators would trigger areas for concern.

·         On a suggestion that the percentage of children adequately housed could be added to the key children’s safeguarding performance indicators, it was noted that housing targets were included in other sections of the plan.

·         With regard to the reference to the Constitutional Review Working Group in Section 4 of the plan there was a question on whether Cabinet portfolios were now aligned with Council’s priorities.  Scrutiny would be looked at with a view to strengthening its performance management and enquiry work.

RESOLVED:

That (a) the Council’s Overall Performance Improvement Action Plan be noted;

                        (b)the proposed arrangements for reporting progress against the Plan to the Committee be noted;

                                    and

                        (c)        progress against the Plan be noted as part of its           consideration of the separate item on the Integrated    Performance Report to the end of May 2006.

(B) The Council’s Performance Improvement Cycle

The Committee was invited to consider the Council’s Performance Improvement Cycle and have regard to it in developing the scrutiny programme.

In accordance with the Council’s Overall Performance Improvement Plan the previous corporate planning and budget processes had been brought together to ensure that there was a direct relationship at all stages between the planning of budgets (and other resources) and the outputs and outcomes they were allocated to achieve.  The core elements of the performance improvement cycle were shown in Appendix 1 to the report.  This year the cycle had not been implemented in full  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider Cabinet’s response to the recommendations made to it in the Scrutiny Review of the Strategic Service Delivery Partnership.

The Committee considered the Cabinet’s response to the recommendations made to it in the Scrutiny Review of the Strategic Service Delivery Partnership.

On 15th June 2006 Cabinet agreed that its response be approved, as set out in the Appendix to the report, and that consideration be given to an external consultant being engaged to undertake a brief piece of work to verify a number of aspects of the services supplied by the partnership.

Responding to questioning the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member (Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources) confirmed that the Scrutiny Review report had been carefully considered and an action plan prepared. A number of concerns were already being addressed as part of the existing management initiatives.  A consultant would be engaged to comment on a number of aspects including value for money under the partnership agreement.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet’s response to the findings of the review of the Strategic Service Delivery partnership, including the proposed use of an external consultant described above, be noted.

To receive a progress report from the Chairman of the Review Group.

The Committee received a progress report from the Chairman of the ICT Services Review Group.

Councillor BF Ashton, Chairman of the ICT Services Review Group, reported that the review was progressing with interviews and a fact finding visit being undertaken.  He warned that due to problems with programming interviews the final report would be delayed.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To endorse the Scrutiny Improvement Plan.

The Committee were invited to endorse the Scrutiny Improvement Plan.

The Director of Corporate and Customer Services reported that in response to comments by a Peer Challenge team in Spring 2005 and a subsequent seminar involving Members of this Committee, a Scrutiny Improvement Plan had been developed.  This had been revised following the Council’s Corporate Assessment and the report of the consultant on the JAR Action Plan.

RESOLVED: That the Scrutiny Improvement Plan be endorsed.

To consider the Scrutiny Committees’ current and future work programmes.

The Committee noted the Scrutiny Committee’s current and future work programmes.

Having considered at an informal meeting a discussion paper setting out a number of possible themes for the scrutiny programme and identified a number of areas to pursue, identified in the agenda report, the Committee requested that, following consultation with the Chairmen and Vice-Chairman of the Scrutiny Committees, scoping work be carried out into the areas identified.

RESOLVED:

That    (a)            the Director of Corporate and Customer Services be authorised                 to arrange for scoping work to be carried out on the areas                         identified in the report following consultation with the Chairmen                   and Vice-Chairmen of the Scrutiny Committees;

            and

            (b)            the current Work Programmes be noted.

To consider the work being undertaken by the Scrutiny Committees.

The Committee noted the work being undertaken by the Scrutiny Committees.

To receive presentations by the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member (Corporate And Customer Services And Human Resources), and Cabinet Member (Resources) on performance in 2005/06 and challenges for 2006/07.

The Committee received presentations by the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member (Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources) and Cabinet Member (Resources) on performance in 2005/06 and challenges for 2006/07.

Leader of the Council

A report had been prepared by the Leader of the Council.  In presenting his report the Leader of the Council highlighted the following issues:

·         The Joint Area Review of Children’s Services had been resource intensive and he credited the staff for continuing the provision of services during the review period.  He commented that addressing the outcome of the review was a priority for the Council.  While significant improvement had already been made there was still some concern about sustaining the level of improvement.

·         The Council should take a clear lead role in the community in relation to diversity issues.

·         The development of an integrated planning process and medium term financial strategy was underway.

·         While the Herefordshire Connects Programme may be seen as a high-risk strategy it was a programme the Council had to deliver in view of the medium term financial position facing the Council.

·         While some problems had arisen over sharing budgets to ensre an effective use of resources, the Council had always been committed to partnership working.

·         The continuance of the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust owed a lot to the support of the Council and the Herefordshire community.

Responding to questioning the Leader expressed some concern in relation to aspects of The Lyons Review and in particular possible changes to the allocation of Business Rates.  He emphasised that as Chair of the West Midland Shire Councils, his work in connection with City Regions, and in other fora he ensured that, whenever possible, the problems faced by rural Counties were raised.

Cabinet Member (Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources)

A report had been prepared by the Cabinet Member (Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources).  In presenting her report the Cabinet Member highlighted the following issues:

·         While it had been a difficult year the Council had achieved recognition for its Website, achieved the Plain English Campaign’s Crystal Mark and regained the Charter Mark for Info.

·         The Corporate and Customer Services Directorate had co-ordinated the Corporate Assessment work and was sponsoring the Herefordshire Connects Programme.

·         Through the development of ICT, the Herefordshire Connects Transformation Programme will integrate front line services.  There will also be a change to the HR culture involving changes to accommodation and working practices for a number of staff and opportunities for some staff to further develop their skills.

·         Performance Management will be a critical area and Herefordshire will learn from the best practice in other authorities.

The Committee noted the report and the following are the principal points that arose during the ensuing debate:

·         The Herefordshire Connects Transformation Programme created a big opportunity for the Council and its partners. However, the experiences of other authorities would be used during the development of the programme. 

·         The Public Service Trust will drive other ICT related developments e.g. the sharing of data.

·         A  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.