PAPER B

 

 

CHILDREN’S SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE - 15 JUNE 2004

 

QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT 4

 

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR CHILDREN’S 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 Children’s Services Portfolio. This fourth report for 2004/05 was considered at the Council’s Executive on the 2 June 2004.

 

 

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

 

  1. To receive the Quarterly Performance Management Report insofar as it relates to the Children’s Services Portfolio Holder’s responsibilities.

 

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

 

  1. Determine whether further information is required from the Portfolio Holder on the two Areas to Watch detailing scope of concern, background and proposals to improve as 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 Holder for Children’s Services for the quarter ended 31 March 2004.  Some information is estimated and it should be appreciated that budget information is not for the full financial year 2004/05, 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 and the CPA Improvement Plan.  Ongoing and in progress actions  and activities will be carried forward to the Annual Action Statement for 2004/05.

 

3.                  Feedback from the previous Education, Community Development and Lifelong Learning Select Committee when the Quarterly Performance Management Report for quarter 3 was the request for more performance information on usage of mobile libraries, purpose of visits to library premises and telephone/internet renewals. This information will be included in the key basket of performance indicators in the first Quarterly Performance Management Report of the new financial year, subject to Executive approval of the basket.

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

 

·                    Meeting the two Public Service Agreement targets for 2004/05 - page 9.

·                    Meeting the target for the number of visits per 1000 population to libraries - page 8

·                    Exceeding the target for number of learners in Council supported provision -page 8

 

5.                  However, there are concerns on the following:

 

·                    Performance indicator for the percentage of 15 year olds schools maintained by the authority achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C or equivalent-page 8

·                    An Area to Watch that has been highlighted for quarter 3 and 4 relating to storage facilities for the public records office - page 7.

·                    Areas to Watch highlighted as of concern for quarter 4 including pressures within the Community Development budget relating to under recovery of income for admissions and library income, and deficits in theatre budgets.

 

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

 

Best Value Performance Plan 2002/03

Annual Action Statement 2002/03

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 JILL WAREHAM

Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services