SUMMARY/PURPOSE

1. To recommend the Best Value Performance Plan for adoption by Full Council.

BACKGROUND

2. The BVPP has to be published annually, and is a full version of the summary that was produced and circulated as part of Wight Insight in March 2003.

3. The information contained within the BVPP is gathered from various other council strategies, plans and documents. The performance data is factual and reports the outturn for 2002/2003 performance indicators as per the Audit Commission’s requirements.

4. It sets out the councils performance for 2002/2003 against national and local indicators, shows trends over the previous year and sets targets for the future. The content of the BVPP is largely prescribed by legislation, but its annual adoption by the Full Council and use by the Executive and Select Committees during the year is central to the authorities performance management arrangements.

5. Copies have to be made available at all council offices, including libraries and will also be made available to major partner organisations and agencies, as well as members. The document will be available on the web site and the information contained within it will be key to the Performance section of the site, which is currently under construction.

STRATEGIC CONTEXT

6. This document, which is required by law, sets out details of our performance as a council. It provides an overview of the council’s corporate priorities and identifies objectives for the coming year. It links the actions and targets set out by the council in its Corporate Plan, Annual Action Statement and CPA Improvement Plan, and individual service plans, providing a comprehensive summary of our performance over past years and our priorities for the coming year.

CONSULTATION

7. Directors, Heads of Service, relevant Officers and District Audit have been given the opportunity to comment upon the BVPP.

8. Public comment on the final published version is always sought.

FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

9. The production and publication of the Plan is fully budgeted for.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

10. The publication of the BVPP and the contents of it are statutory obligations arising under the Local Government Act 1999.

OPTIONS

11. (a) To recommend the BVPP to Full Council.

EVALUATION/RISK MANAGEMENT

12. The council has a statutory responsibility set out in Circular 03/2003 to publish its Best Value Performance Plan by 30^th June 2003. Not doing so will result in a qualification from the Audit Commission (District Auditor).

13. In practice, this means that as a minimum, copies of this document will need to be available in all libraries and reception points and a copy forwarded to the District Auditor by 30^th June 2003.

14. In previous years, data submitted for a number of the indicators have either been qualified by the District Auditor, or have had reservations expressed about their quality. Qualification relates to understating or overstating performance, thus providing information that would be likely to mislead.

15. In response to previous problems, a risk assessment of indicators and an internal verification check of the processes used to collect data has been undertaken, in order to minimise the likely qualification of indicators.

RECOMMENDATIONS

16. Option (a)

BACKGROUND PAPERS

17. Best Value Performance Plan 2001/2002

18. ODPM Circular 03/2003

19. DTLR 2002/2003 Performance Indicators – definitions

20. District Auditors Annual Report, December 2002

21. Corporate Plan, CPA Improvement Plan, Annual Action Statement and all Service Plans.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

22. The Best Value Performance Plan 2002/2003 has been circulated to members of the Executive and a copy has been placed in the members room.

Contact Point: Wendy Perera ext 3697, email: [email protected]

M J A FISHER

Strategic Director for Corporate Services and Chief Executive Officer

P HARRIS

Deputy Leader