PAPER B

 

 

ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE - 17 JUNE 2004

 

QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT 4

 

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDERS FOR ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

 

REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

 

This Quarterly Performance Management Report is for the period 1st January to 31st March 2004 and is for the Social Services, Housing and Benefits portfolios. This fourth report for 2003/04 was considered at the Council’s Executive on the 2nd June 2004.

 

 

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

 

  1. To receive the Quarterly Performance Management Report insofar as it relates to the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Portfolio Holder’s responsibilities

 

  1. Determine whether further information is required from the Portfolio Holder on the Housing Benefit targets and the Area to Watch detailing scope of concern, background and proposals to improve as set out in paragraph 4

 

  1. To consider if additional information is required from the Portfolio Holders, those responsible for the service areas under scrutiny and/or from other sources detailing specific actions to improve performance for the Public Service Agreement targets set out in paragraph 5

 

  1. To determine whether to add or amend the work programme of the Select Committee in light of the Quarterly Performance Management Report and any additional information received.

 

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

1.            This Report for Quarter 4 summarises performance for the responsibilities under the Portfolio Holders for Social Services, Housing and Benefits for the quarter ended 31st March 2004. Some information is estimated and it should be appreciated that budget information is not for the full financial year 2003/04, due to possible amendments as part of the closedown procedures.

 

2.      This quarter also includes a selection of achievements and ongoing activities from the Annual Action Statement for 2003/04. Ongoing and in progress actions and activities will be carried forward to the Annual Action Statement for 2004/05.

3.                  Feedback from the previous Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee when the Quarterly Performance Management Report for quarter 3  was presented included:

 

·                   To include the number of foster care replacements -this to be a new key performance indicator for quarterly reports from April 2004

 

·                   To devise a clearer set of performance indicators that are meaningful-part of the work  on the revised key basket of performance indicators to begin from quarter 1 2004/05 Quarterly Performance Management Report

 

·                   To include more explanation on originating team for Achievements and Areas to Watch and on Public Service Agreement targets-included in this report

   

4.              Significant progress has been made throughout the year on targets and activities within the Portfolio Holders responsibilities including:

 

·                   Achievement of bed and breakfast target for families with children

 

·                   Registered home owners court case now no longer proceeding

 

·                   Part of the Public Service Agreement target exceeded for number of  older people whose discharge from hospital is delayed

 

·                   The staff vacancy level in Children’s Services is now below 2%, the best in the region

 

5.      However, there are concerns on the following:

 

·                  The three Housing Benefits performance indicators did not reach their targets for this quarter, currently a Priority Improvement Area-see page 4 and 9

 

·                  The lack of home care provision which has been reported as an Area to Watch in all four Quarterly Performance Management Reports for 2003/04-page 8

 

6.      There are also concerns on two of the four Public Service Agreement targets

      currently within the Portfolio Holder’s responsibility:

 

·                   Two parts of the Public Service Agreement target for rehabilitation care for older people have not been achieved for 2003/04-page 10

 

·               The Public Service Agreement target for improving the education, training and employment outcomes of care leavers aged 19 has not been achieved for 2003/04-page 11

 

Although good progress is continuing to be made to achieve these targets by the end of 2005/06 when the PSA grant is due, they are a concern as failure to meet these targets could mean a loss in grant.

 

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

 

Best Value Performance Plan 2002/03

Annual Action Statement 2003/04

Quarterly Performance Management Report 1, 2, 3 and 4

 

CONSULTATION PROCESS

 

Heads of Service and their staff have supplied the information within the Quarterly Performance Management Report, with Directors being fully consulted on the content.

 

External consultation has not been necessary for this report as it is concerned with internal financial management arrangements.

 

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

 

The report itself does not have any financial implications. However, if Members make decisions regarding services identified in this report, these may have financial implications.

 

It is a requirement of the Local Government Act 1999 to deliver best value in service delivery of which an effective performance management system is a significant part.

 

APPENDICES ATTACHED

 

Appendix 1 Quarterly Performance Management Report 4

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

 

Annual Action Statement 2003/04

Comprehensive Performance Assessment Action Plan

Quarterly Performance Management Reports 1, 2 and 3

 

 

 

Contact Point : Heidi Marshall, Principal Policy Officer, 823250 [email protected]

 

 

 

 

CLLR GORDON KENDALL

Portfolio Holder for Adult and Community Services