Agenda item - Annual progress update Corporate Key Performance Indicators 2016-17

Report of the Chief Executive

1.         To review progress in relation to Corporate KPIs particularly corrective measures outlined for ‘red’ and ‘amber’ indicators and provide ongoing support and challenge to lead officers to bring performance back on track.

12.1      The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive that set out the year-end 2016/17 performance progress in relation to Corporate Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).

12.2      Councillor Sykes noted his concern that the number of KPI’s classified as red had increased since July 2014 and the customer satisfaction rate with the performance of the council was lower than the national average. Councillor Sykes expressed concern that the Staff Survey question relating to bullying and harassment had been changed significantly with the phrasing much more likely to receive a positive response. Furthermore, Councillor Sykes noted that there were a number of red indicators that were of particular worry including fuel poverty, levels of violent crime, air quality and the number of children with Child Protection Plans and Children in Care.

12.3      Councillor Wealls noted that it would be beneficial for the data on Planning performance to be separated out to highlight where planning applications had been subject to extensions and show the length of time taken to determine an application from submission to determination. Councillor Wealls stated that he believed that the KPI for average Progress 8 score should be increased as the target was under ambitious had had been exceeded in actual performance. Councillor Wealls expressed his disappointment not only that the KPI target for average Progress 8 score for disadvantaged children was -0.31 but actual performance was below that target at -0.44. Councillor Wealls stated that there was a lack of clarity about who owned targets and he would welcome Member input into target setting.

12.4      The Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture confirmed that Planning performance and data on use of extension data could be provided.

12.5      In relation to the question raised on Progress 8, the Executive Director, Families, Children & Learning clarified that there were significant changes to the assessment regime for GCSE’s and there was still some uncertainty about what those changes would mean in terms of outcomes. KPI’s would be something looked at carefully once results for this year were announced.

12.6      In relation to the questions raised on ownership and accountability, the Executive Lead, Strategy, Governance & Law clarified that a change would be made to the system whereby indicators and associated targets would be agreed by the committee as detailed in Item 12 of the agenda. The Head of Performance Improvement & Programmes added that the setting of targets was much more rigorous and in some instances, as detailed at paragraph 4.7 of the report, the target was stretched beyond that of comparator authorities that occasionally led to more red and amber rated KPI’s and that as the indicator set for 2016-17 has been different to the previous years, it was difficult to make direct comparision on the overall proportion of the RAG ratings.

12.7      RESOLVED- To review progress in relation to Corporate KPIs particularly corrective measures outlined for ‘red’ and ‘amber’ indicators and provide ongoing support and challenge to lead officers to bring performance back on track.