PAPER C

Committee: RESOURCES SELECT COMMITTEE

Date: 20 DECEMBER 2002

Title: CORPORATE POLICY & COMMUNICATIONS –

REORGANISATION & DRAFT SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR 2003/4

REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES

SUMMARY / PURPOSE :

This report outlines changes to the structure and organisation of the Corporate Policy & Communications Unit together with details of the draft Service Improvement Plan for 2003/4.

BACKGROUND

As part of the re-structuring of senior management within the Council, a new Corporate Policy & Communications Unit has been created. This has brought together the following services :

· Corporate Policy

· Press & PR

· Graphic Design

· Economic Development

· LA21

· Help Centres

In June 2002 a new Head of Service was appointed. This appointment coincided with development of a Corporate Plan for the Council and with commencement of the Government’s new Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) inspection process. Both activities have highlighted the need to re-focus the organisation of the corporate support functions within the authority.

The Corporate Policy & Communications Unit has, accordingly, been re-organised into 5 teams to provide a better match with the Council’s new corporate agenda :

1. Corporate Policy

Bringing members of the previous Policy Team together with economic development and LA21 staff, the new team provides a generic pool of policy specialists. Key functions of the team include responsibility for the Corporate Plan, performance management, economic development, LA21 and public health, research & information, complaints, etc.

The team manager is Tony Geeson.

2. Communications & PR

Bringing together the Press & PR and Graphics services, the new team provides the basis for a stronger corporate focus on communications activities. Key functions of the team include responsibility for external and internal communications, Wight Insight, graphic design, corporate events, etc.

The team manager position is currently out to advert.

3. Community Partnerships

This is a new team which aims to bring an improved focus to customer services and external partnership activities. It brings together responsibility for the Council Help Centres, liaison with external partnerships (including the Island Futures partnership) and social inclusion and equalities issues.

The team manager is Sue Chilton.

4. Crime & Disorder

The team is responsible for management of the Crime & Disorder Partnership on the Island and is staffed by Council employees and secondees from other agencies.

The team manager is Niki Haytack.

5. Office Support

In order to provide effective administrative support to the Unit, a new team has been created combining the administrative resources of the previous Policy and Economic Development teams.

These organisational changes have been discussed and agreed by the Vacancy Panel

DRAFT SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2003/4

With the creation of the new Unit, appointment of the new Head of Service and subsequent internal reorganisation of the team, the focus of effort in the current year has been on the Corporate Plan and CPA inspection. These two activities have shaped the Service Plan priorities for 2003/4.

Key achievements to date over the current year include :

• Corporate Plan developed and approved
• PSA developed and agreed
• Successful completion of CPA inspection
• Secured over £3 million in EU funding
• Completion of Territorial Employment Pact
• Renewable Energy Strategy developed and approved
• Funding secured for Green Awards officer
• Media monitoring system introduced
• Secured over 25,000 column centimetres of press coverage (of which only 16% was critical)
• Quarterly “Contact” bulletin produced for staff
• Island Futures Community Strategy developed and approved
• Community Partnerships established across the Island (35 in all)
• Equalities Strategy produced
• New Help Centre service introduced at Brading and Wootton
• Crimebeat and Domestic Violence co-ordinators employed
• First Anti-Social Behaviour Order issued

Disappointments over the year to date include :

• A continuing high level of Performance Indicators qualified by District Audit
• No Race Equalities scheme in place
• A rise in crime in certain categories

Attached to this report (Annex 1), is a summary of the Service Improvement Plan for 2003/4; this is designed in the new format agreed by members for Service Plans. Priorities for service improvement are set out for each of the new teams within the Unit. Member attention is particularly drawn to the following :

1. Corporate Policy Team

Particular priorities include :

· development of a corporate performance management framework

· co-ordination of delivery of Corporate Plan and Annual Action Statement (including support for key corporate initiatives)

· development of an external funding service

· on-going support for economic development and the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership

· development of an action plan to deliver the Renewable Energy Strategy

· development of a Green Awards scheme

· delivery of the Public Service Agreement

2. Communications & PR Team

Particular priorities include :

· development of a Communications Strategy to improve both internal and external communications

· production of quarterly media monitoring reports

· development of a corporate events programme

· improvements to Wight Insight (including tendering for print production and securing a sponsorship deal)

3. Community Partnerships Team

Particular priorities include :

· development of a Community Partnerships & Consultation strategy

· development of an Equalities scheme

· development of an Action Plan for future roll-out of Help Centres and improved customer services

· development of an Action Plan for delivery of the Social Inclusion Strategy

· development of an Action Plan for the Island Futures partnership

· development of a Voluntary Sector compact

3. Crime & Disorder Team

Particular priorities include :

· implementation of improved ASBO service

· implementation of improved system for reporting of racist attacks

· improved mainstreaming of Section 17 duties throughout the Council

· delivery of the Island Safe and Crimebeat programmes

· improved architectural liaison service

It should be noted that Annex 1 outlines priorities for service improvement only ie. it is not an exhaustive list of all team activities.

Performance measures and targets will be established for all proposed activities.

Members are invited to comment upon the draft Service Improvement Plan. Areas for enquiry may include :

• Does it support achievement of the Council’s mission “to improve Island life”?
• Does it give a clear view of the service priorities?
• Are there improvement activities that have been omitted?
• Do members have views on the type of targets and measures they would like to see included in due course?

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Financial implications will be assessed during finalisation of the draft Plan.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Committee :

Consider and comment upon the draft Service Improvement Plan for 2003/4

BACKGROUND PAPERS

Corporate Plan, 2002/5

CPA Corporate Assessment, 2002

Best Value Performance Plan, 2001/02

Contact point : John Bentley, Head of Corporate Policy & Communications

Tel 823346

MIKE FISHER

Head of Paid Service

Task A. Corporate Policy Develop corporate performance management framework. Co-ordinate delivery of CPA Improvement Plan Co-ordinate development and delivery of Annual Action Statement Establish External Funding service Achieve Investors in People recognition for whole Unit	Target Date April 03 Full year Full year April 03 Dec 03	Outcome Council-wide framework in place Satisfactory report from Audit Commission Achievement of Corporate Plan aims Maximising the attraction of external funding Improved staff management	Responsible officer TG JB JB TG TG	Dependencies Members, Directors, and Heads of Service support Members, Directors, and Heads of Service support Members, Directors, and Heads of Service support Directors, and Heads of Service support Staff time	Key Objectives to be achieved Excellence in service delivery Excellence in service delivery Excellence in service delivery Excellence in service delivery Excellence in service delivery
Task	Target Date	Outcome	Responsible Officer	Dependencies	Key Objectives to be achieved
Deliver Economic Development BV Improvement Plan Deliver Partnership Review Improvement Plan Deliver BVPP Review Improvement Plan Develop Action Plan for Renewable Energy Strategy Establish Green Awards scheme	March 04 March 04 March 04 April 04 June 04	Compliance with Action Plan Compliance with Action Plan Compliance with Action Plan Achievement of Strategy Support delivery of LA21 strategy	TG TG TG TG TG	IWEP support IWEP support Directors & Heads of Service support Directors, Heads of Service & partner support Partner support	Excellence in service delivery Excellence in service delivery Excellence in service delivery Protecting the Island’s natural environment Protecting the Island’s natural environment

Task	Target Date	Outcome	Responsible Officer	Dependencies	Key Objectives to be achieved
Co-ordinate delivery of PSA Develop corporate research and information service Co-ordinate work for Peer Group review B. Communications and PR Develop Communication and PR strategy Develop internal communications plan Wight Insight · Tender for printing · Secure sponsorship	On-going July 03 Sept 03 July 03 April 03 April 03	Achievement of targets Improved information service Maintain improvement momentum Improved communications Improved internal communications Improved value for money	TG TG TG New Manager BT SW/DH	Director & Heads of Service support Staff time Director & Heads of Service support Director & Heads of Service support Director & Heads of Service support Staff time	Excellence in service delivery Excellence in service delivery Excellence in service delivery Improved community focus Improved community focus Improved community focus

Task	Target Date	Outcome	Responsible Officer	Dependencies	Key Objectives to be achieved
Produce quarterly media monitoring reports Develop corporate events programme Review press liaison arrangements Review graphic design service	Quarterly April 03 Sept 03 Sept 03	Improved awareness of impact of communications service Improved service Improved service Improved service	CL BT New manager New manager	Staff time Director & Heads of Service support Director & Heads of Service support Director & Heads of Service support	Improved community focus Improved community focus Improved community focus Excellence in service delivery

Task	Target Date	Outcome	Responsible Officer	Dependencies	Key Objectives to be achieved
C.Community Partnerships Develop Community Partnerships and Consultation Strategy Development of Equalities scheme Action Plan for future development of Help Centres Action Plan for delivery of Social Inclusion Strategy	May 03 April 03 April 03 June 03	Framework for future activities Compliance with CRE requirements Improved public service/dialogue Improved service delivery	SC SC SC SC	Director & Heads of Service support Director & Heads of Service support Director & Heads of Service support Director & Heads of Service support	Improved community focus Improved community focus Improved community focus Improved community focus

Task	Target Date	Outcome	Responsible Officer	Dependencies	Key Objectives to be achieved
Development Plan for Island Futures partnership Establish approved Voluntary Sector Compact	April 03 May 03	Strengthened partnership working Strengthened partnership working	SC SC	Partner support Partner support	Improved community focus Improved community focus

Task	Target Date	Outcome	Responsible Officer	Dependencies	Key Objectives to be achieved
D. Crime and Disorder Review Crime and Disorder Strategy Implement improved ASBO Strategy Implementation of improved system for racist incidents Develop & deliver training programme for mainstreaming of S.17 duties Develop & promote Crimebeat programme	May 03 April 03 May 03 March 04 March 04	Achievement of C & D partnership aims Appointment of ASBO co-ordinator Launch of new reporting system Compliance with statutory duty Involvement of young people in tackling crime	NH NH NH NH NH	Partner support Partnership funding Partnership support (esp. links with Integration in our Island Group) Director & Heads of Service support Partner support	Creating safe & crime-free communities Creating safe & crime-free communities Creating safe & crime-free communities Creating safe & crime-free communities Creating safe & crime-free communities
Task	Target Date	Outcome	Responsible Officer	Dependencies	Key Objectives to be achieved
Review and update Crime and Disorder website Develop improved architectural liaison service Develop improved arrangements for monitoring and applying best practice	Quarterly March 04 March 04	Provision of accurate and up-to-date information Improved service Improved service	NH DG / NH NH	Staff time Partner support Partner support	Creating safe & crime-free communities Creating safe & crime-free communities Creating safe & crime-free communities