To note performance to the end of July 2006 against the Annual Operating Plan 2006-07, together with performance against revenue and capital budgets and corporate risks, and remedial action to address areas of under-performance.  The report also covers the progress being made against the Council’s Overall Improvement Programme, which includes the Joint Area Review (JAR) Action Plan, the Adult Social Care Improvement Plan and the Herefordshire Connects programme.

The Committee considered the Integrated Performance Report setting out performance to the end of July 2006 against the Annual Operating Plan 2006-07, together with performance against revenue and capital budgets and corporate risks, and remedial action to address areas of under-performance.

The report also covered the progress being made against the Council’s Overall Improvement Programme, which included the Joint Area Review (JAR) Action Plan, the Adult Social Care Improvement Plan and the Herefordshire Connects programme.

The Corporate Policy and Research Manager highlighted that 19 of the 89 strategic performance indicators in the Annual Operating Plan were in the category: not achieved, or not expected to be achieved, or no targets/milestones identified.  This compared with 45 indicators at the time of the last report, which represented significant progress.  The principal reason why there had been 45 indicators in this category had been due to the need to identify clear action plans and milestones.  14 of the remaining 19 red-flagged indicators still had these deficiencies, with most depending on agreeing the relevant material with partner organisations.  Work continued to complete all to the necessary standard, with the expectation this should be done before the next performance report was published in October.

He noted that in considering the report on 7th September Cabinet had indicated its clear expectation that there should be continued progress and that now action plans and milestones were in place there was a need to ensure their delivery.

He reported that the Council’s Overall Performance Improvement Plan would be reviewed and, as necessary, revised at the end of October.  This would take into account suggestions and recommendations from the Audit Commission following their September review of the Council’s progress in respect of performance management.  The existing Plan had, however, been judged by the Commission to be currently fit for purpose.  He noted that the assessment of the future social care needs of older people and adults with learning difficulties and services to meet them was nearing completion, with the intention of reporting to Cabinet in October.

Regarding the Joint Area Review (JAR), he reported that there had been good progress in increasing the number of cases of children being referred to the Council, to the extent that the target set to be achieved by March 2007 had been exceeded during July.  However, this meant that many more assessments had to be carried out, which created pressures.  The situation was being managed intensively. 

The JAR in the autumn of 2005 had concluded that the arrangements for “Staying Safe” (the overall contribution of services to keeping young people safe) were inadequate.  An independent review by the Department for Education and Science had now concluded that, following an intensive programme of remedial action by Children’s Services with partner organisations, the arrangements for “Staying Safe” were now adequate. This was identified as high priority in the corporate risks in the Risk Register.  It was important that this position was maintained.

He drew Members’ attention to the position on the revenue budget and the capital budgets, noting particularly the estimated revenue overspend of £3.5 million on adult social care which needed continued management, but in respect of which a contingency fund had earlier been earmarked. 

He also commented briefly on the corporate risk log noting, in addition to risks to the authority associated with safeguarding children, the Herefordshire Connects Programme and the response to the outcome of the social care needs analysis on Older People and Adults with Learning Difficulties.

In the course of discussion the following principal points were made:

·          A question was asked about progress against the indicator for the number of adults with mental health problems helped to live at home per 1,000 population aged 18-64 which showed performance below the bottom quartile.  The Corporate Policy and Research Manager reported that there had been a significant improvement in 2005-06, with performance above the median level for English local authorities in 2004-05 (the latest available audited figures). 

·          There was discussion of the potential budgetary implications associated with this increased provision.

·          The Corporate Policy and Research Manager referred to the work being undertaken on future needs and services for older people and adults with learning disabilities.  The intention was to carry out similar review in due course in respect of the needs and future services for 18 to 65 year-olds with mental health problems or physical disabilities.  The work on services for older people and adults with learning disabilities showed that it should be possible to meet future pressures with higher quality, more efficient services.  There would be additional costs in any event but their extent could be substantially mitigated were services to be reshaped.

·          Members discussed the need to get a clearer understanding of what the performance indicators were really saying and put them in context.  It was noted, for example, that the increase in relation to the national indicator for the number of arrests for domestic violence offences could be attributable to a number of factors, such as an increase in the number of offences, and did not necessarily demonstrate that the actions of the Council and its partners were having a beneficial effect.  It was suggested that some case studies should be provided to Members providing examples for discussion.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.