Report - Summary of Performance Across Areas Related to the Work of the Committee 23Rd

BOROUGH OF POOLE

COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND EDUCATION SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

23 SEPTEMBER 2003

REPORT ON SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE ACROSS AREAS RELATED TO THE WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE

PART OF PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN: YES

PURPOSE AND POLICY CONTEXT

1.1To provide Members with a summary of performance across the

Resources theme using the outturns from Best Value Performance

Indicators (BVPI’s) for 2002/03.

1.2To ask Members to consider how they might use this information to identify areas of focus/in need of improvement.

DECISIONS REQUIRED

That the Committee:

2.1Determine future regularity for reporting.

2.2Determine referral methods for further action or information.

3.BACKGROUND

3.1The Council has a statutory duty to report against a number of BVPI’s. There were 97 across the whole organisation for 2002/03.

3.2The BVPI’s have been designed to provide a rounded view of performance across the Council. They endeavour to reflect the resources devoted to service, the efficiency with which those resources are used, the quality of the service and the service users’ experience of service delivery.

3.3Outturns for all BVPI’s for 2002/03 were published in the Councils Best Value Performance Plan in June 2003.

3.4All financial outturns were reported as best estimates and are still subject to confirmation and external audit. The audit could also lead to changes to the published outturns.

4.ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE

4.1The tables at appendix A show actual performance to target for 2002/03, Poole’s comparative quartile position in 2001/02 and performance trends from 2000/01 to 2002/03, where consistent historic data is available.

4.2Actual to Target

4.2.1The outturns for BVPI’s 40 and 41 (Key Stage 2 results) were notably off target, although early indications for this summers results show an improvement in this area.

4.2.2The Council saw performance significantly exceed targets against BVPI’s 30 (Education) and 117, 170a&b (Libraries and Museums).

4.2.3A number of Social Services indicators were in line with or close to target: BV49 (stability of placement for children looked after); BV162 (review rate for child protection cases); BV190 (response to requests for changes). Other indicators were well below target: BV50 (qualification of children looked after); BV55 (clients receiving a review); BV163 (adoption of children looked after).

4.2.4In the Housing area temporary accommodation measures BVPIs 183a (length of stay, B&B) and b (length of stay – hostel) were off target but BVPIs 62 (removal of unfit dwellings) and 63 (energy efficiency) exceeded the targets.

4.2.5Housing Benefit processing times increase and go over targets this year, shown in BVPIs 78a (time for proceeding claims), b (notification of change of circumstances) and c (claims processed on time).

4.2.6Community Safety indicators show domestic burglaries reducing beyond target although vehicle crimes have gone up slightly, over target.

4.3Quartile Position

4.3.1Comparative quartile data for 2002/03 will not be available until the end of the calendar year, but for 2001/02, Poole had 18 indicators across these themes either in or near to the top quartile, against 12 either in or near to the lower quartile. There are 44 indicators across the service areas in total, with comparative data.

4.4Performance Trends

4.4.1In the Education area, the trend data shows a positive improvement in performance.

4.4.2Social Services indicators show adverse trends against BVPIs 50 (educational qualification – children looked after) ,55 (clients receiving review) and 163 (adoptions, children looked after). Overall, the general trend is for sustained rather than significantly improved performance in this area with the notable exception of the stability of placements of children looked after.

4.4.3There is limited BVPI trend available for Housing Services as indicators have either been discontinued or are new from 2002/03.

4.4.4Trend data in the Housing Benefits area support the 2002/03 outturns where we have experienced a slight dip in performance to target this year.

4.4.5Cultural Related Services and Community Safety measures generally show a positive upward trend in performance.

4.5Future Reporting

4.5.1An updated report on performance can be prepared, to include the half yearly position, audited actuals and the 2002/03 comparative positions against BVPI’s towards the end of the calendar year.

Background Papers

Best Value Performance Plan 2003/04

Officer Contact

Bridget West – Corporate Performance Manager

01202 633085