Agenda item

To receive updates on KPI’s and other performance targets as at Quarter 2.

(Item 6 – Report of the Leader & Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Audit and Transformation, Mr P Carter and Corporate Director for Strategic and Corporate Services, David Cockburn)

Cabinet received a report detailing key areas of performance for the authority as at quarter 2, based on data up to September 2014.

Richard Hallett, Head of Business Intelligence, was in attendance to speak to the item; he referred in particular to the following:

      I.        The report was generally positive, showing a net positive direction of travel continued from the previous quarter.  The report also included information on activity data and risk.

    II.        Only one Key Performance Indicator (KPI) was reported as ‘Red’: Promoting Independence Reviews.  However performance was in line with previously reported expectations with the programme expected to reach the target level in quarter three.

   III.        That three KPI’s had moved out of red status, namely:

·         The percentage of phone calls answered by the Contact Point had increased and satisfaction remained high as a result of the recruitment of new staff,

·         Business mileage claims had been reduced, although it should be considered a provisional result because late expenses claims might alter the position

·         Numbers of permanent qualified social worker staff had increased in line with the predicted trajectory.

  IV.        That three outstanding risk actions remained, all having had significant action taken but not yet completed.

The item was opened for discussion.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Mr Mark Dance, spoke to the item.  He commented on the good performance of the TIGER and Escalate funds, detailed within the report.  He reported that the scheme was working well for businesses and was producing new jobs.  Funds would start to be recycled in the near future and loans would continue to be used to promote the Kent economy.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Mr Graham Gibbens, referred to the single ‘Red’ indicator; promoting independence reviews.  He reported that the target had been adversely affected by staff changes and reorganisation work and that action had been taken to address this as part of the work being undertaken by Newton Europe.  He believed that in the future it would be necessary to review the targets as it was not the intention, locally or nationally, to review everybody but only those people where outcomes could be improved by means of a review.

He also spoke about the non-smoking target and the downward travel to amber from green in quarter 2 explaining that since 2012 there had been a downward trend both locally and nationally in smoking.  He also made members aware that the target in Kent was higher than that nationally being set at 52% as opposed to 50% elsewhere.

The Deputy Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform, Mrs Margaret Crabtree, spoke to the item.  She highlighted elements within the report relevant to the Education portfolio, in particular she welcomed news that:

      I.        The percentage of schools rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ continued to rise;

    II.        Performance at Key Stage 2 continued to improve and the gap between local and national performance continued to close;

   III.        Performance at Key Stage 4 remained well ahead of national performance despite changes implemented at pace by government;

  IV.        Expansion and new build work to increase primary school places continued in order to meet demand, however, she urged members to be aware that this pressure would transfer to secondary school places in the future.

The Cabinet Member for Community Services, Mr Mike Hill drew attention to the good work undertaken by the Trading Standards team at KCC to protect residents of Kent and was pleased that this was reflected in the performance indicators reported.

It was RESOLVED that the report be NOTED.