To consider a report on end-year performance for 2009-10 against the Council’s key indicators and associated projects and programmes in its Annual Operating Statement 2009-10.

The Committee considered the end of year performance for 2009-10 against the Council’s key indicators and associated projects and programmes in its Annual Operating Statement 2009-10.

The Head of Policy and Performance presented the year end report which had been considered by Cabinet on 17 June.   He referred to the key points summary and advised that the rate of improvement was slowing and that target setting was a weakness.  He also highlighted that targets NI59, NI117, NI136 and ‘local – Average staff sickness’, were considered to be particularly important indicators which was why they were always highlighted whatever their performance.  He further highlighted that the level 1 high-level summary (appendix 2) should by now be indicating a consistently improving picture. This wasn’t the case.  Cabinet had noted the performance and asked the Committee to consider and make recommendations on the Local Area Agreement targets and priorities and asked Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee to consider and make recommendations on improved performance at Key Stages 1 & 2.

The principal points noted during discussion were:

• Comment was made that the targets should be retained but applied intelligently i.e. challenging but also realistic.   It should also be possible to reduce the number of targets by linking together those common to both the Council and NHS Herefordshire.  The Chairman of Health Scrutiny Committee commented that the health related targets should be kept as the heath of the population could have a long term cost.  The Chairman of Adult Social Care & Strategic Housing Scrutiny Committee concurred but added that targets should only be kept if they were realistically achievable.

• While noting that an action plan had been developed, concern was expressed that there may be underlying problems affecting NI 131 – Delayed transfer of care from hospitals – and the Committee requested a briefing note on: how future performance was to be improved; any problems with assessment, and an indication of the current levels of support given.  The briefing note should also be issued to members of the Health Scrutiny and Adult Social Care & Strategic Housing Scrutiny Committees.

• The Chairman of Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee reported that Key Stage 1 & 2 performance would be considered by the Committee on 22 October.

• Concerned about the reduced performance for NI 39 - Alcohol related admission rates – it was reported that this target related to admissions from long term abuse i.e. over the last 15-20 years.  While a serious issue, the Committee questioned the effectiveness of having this target.

• Arising from discussion on the planning and licensing functions the Cabinet Member (Corporate and Customer Services and Human Resources) reported that the Constitutional Review Working Group (CRWG) were undertaking a review incorporating the wider organisational work stream on Regulatory Functions.  The Committee welcomed the review and requested that the resultant report be circulated to Committee Members.

RESOLVED: That

1. the report on the Annual Corporate Performance Report 2009/10 be noted;

2. the outcome of the Children’s Services Committee’s consideration of Key Stage 1 & 2 performance, scheduled for consideration 22 October, be reported to this Committee on 29 November;

3. no further issues be identified for referral to individual scrutiny committees;

4. the Committee recommends to Cabinet that in principle the LAA targets be retained, however:

5. the report resulting from the review being undertaken by Constitutional Review Working Group (CRWG) incorporating the wider organisational work stream on Regulatory Functions be circulated to Committee Members; and

6. A briefing note be issued to members of Overview & Scrutiny; Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committees setting out how improvements were being made to address the underperformance against NI131 target ‘delayed transfer of care from hospitals’