Issue - meetings

(1)       Mr Mills and Ms Abbott introduced the report and they and Mr Leidecker answered questions from Members.  In their presentation, officers highlighted the following points:

(a)       KASS’s performance was very good overall, with very few scores in low bands.

(b)       Some performance indicators/definitions were now out of date/inappropriate/considered flawed as they had not kept pace with the way in which services were delivered.  KASS was actively lobbying for performance indicators to be updated when CSCI reviewed the system nationally in 2008/9.

(c)        Ongoing monitoring and review of all contracted-out services was robust, to ensure that these services met the same performance criteria.

(d)       KASS always made sure that CSCI was aware of Kent’s good practice as some of the flawed and out of date performance indicators do not adequately show it up.

(2)       Members made the following comments:

(a)       Members suggested that it would be helpful for future reports on performance indicators to show a target or expectation alongside the actual performance achieved.

(b)       Members acknowledged the huge workload which was behind a performance indicator score.  Performance indicators were very simplistic and gave no background or explanation to the way a service was delivered.  However, Members appreciated that some system of performance indication was needed as a way for Members and the public to measure service delivery.

(c)        Members reiterated the desire to have a presentation on the Brighter Futures Initiative at a future meeting of the POC, if this was not possible to arrange for a future meeting of the County Council.

(3)       RESOLVED that Members’ comments, listed in paragraph (2) above, be noted.