Agenda item

To consider and note performance monitoring information for quarter 3 of 2014/15

Cabinet received a report of the Leader and Corporate Director of Strategic and Corporate Services detailing the key areas of performance for the authority at Quarter 3 of 2014/15.

Richard Fitzgerald, Performance Manager, was in attendance to speak to the item.  He reported that the majority of indicators were classed as ‘green’ and therefore achieving or overachieving the target set and that there had been more positive direction of travel than otherwise in those that had changed status.  He highlighted for those present the key areas of success, change, or ‘red’ ratings, as follows:

1. Customer Services:

·         The contact Centre had exceeded the target related to call-answering in quarter 3, much improved from earlier monitoring reports and has also achieved a green rating for answering complaints within the required timeframe; up from an amber rating in quarter 2

2. Growth Environment and Transport:

·         Economic indicators showed a return to pre-recession levels and the annual population survey showed that employment rates in Kent were growing faster than nationally.

·         The RGF loan funds, managed by KCC were almost fully subscribed, with 5000 jobs to be created as a result.

·         Highways activity had reported a drop in performance as a result of systems changes made by the contractor.  An action and support plan was now in place to improve performance.

·         Diversion from landfill figures remained strong, partially as a result of a 2.5% increase in the household recycling rate, now almost at the EU target of 50%.  This improvement was credited to new kerbside collections rolled out by District Councils in Kent and supported by KCC.

3. Education and Young Peoples Services:

·         Annual attainment figures for pupils in Kent were not included in quarterly reports but had been good in 2014 – Key Stage 2 results were now at the national average and there had been a reduction in the attainment gap between those pupils receiving free school meals and those who were not.  The indicator reported quarterly, the percentage of schools rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ in Ofsted reports, continued to improve at both Primary and Secondary level.  Early years performance in the same category had dipped slightly but still remained above the national average at 90%.

·         Figures for those young people classed as NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training) had not met the January target but had shown a positive direction of travel and the number of apprenticeships created had remained constant from the same time in 2013.  In the 18-24 year old age range a reduction in jobseeker allowance claims to pre-recession levels, was reported KCC was also employing more young people, having and improved total of 7.7% of the workforce now being under 25.

·         The ‘Early Help and Preventative Services’ division was now fully integrated in to the KCC organisational model, having been newly created, and the Kent Family Support Framework had been rolled out to replace the common assessment framework, which would mean that more families would now receive integrated support.

4. Children’s Social Care showed continued good performance:

·         Adoption rates had increased to over 20% which was above expectation

·         Increased stability of placement for children in care was reported

·         The total number of children in care had been reduced.

·         More permanent social workers were now employed by KCC and latest figures suggested that this would continue to improve.

5. Adult Social Care

·         Core transformation indicators continued to improve and report well, particularly in the areas of enablement and telecare and as a result there had been a significant reduction in new admissions to permanent residential care.

·         Slow progress was being made on the target relating to the promotion of independence reviews and that was currently the only ‘red’ rating in the report.

6. Public Health

·         Delivery of Health Checks showed a small dip in performance over the quarter but it was expected that the annual target would be achieved.

Finally, Mr Fitzgerald directed members to the inclusion of information pertaining to risk within the report and confirmed that full risk reporting would be considered by Cabinet Committees at the next cycle of meetings.

The Leader welcomed the report, in particular reductions in the unemployment rate for the county aided by the Council’s use of regional growth fund monies to create jobs; improvements in Ofsted ratings for schools in Kent, particularly Primary schools which had returned the best inspection results in 17 years; and important improvements achieved in the creation of more stable placements for children in care.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform spoke to the item; he was pleased with the results recorded for primary schools achieving good or outstanding judgements from Ofsted in an area where there had been an historic weakness in Kent attainment was pulling ever closer to the national average.  He reported that the trend had continued in Ofsted reports since December.

Finally he confirmed that a strong plan was in place to raise the number of apprenticeships in the county.

The Leader congratulated the Cabinet Member and officers within the Directorate for achieving such rapid turnaround for many of the schools recovering from below standard Ofsted reports to ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Mr Mark Dance reported that the TIGER and Escalate funds were now fully committed and thanked the business representatives involved in the scheme and officers at KCC for helping to achieve this in a new area of work.  The funds had helped to achieve developments at Discovery Park and investments had been made by businesses in the buildings there, such that they were now world class examples of their type.  A recent World summit of nano technology was held at the park recently and it was hoped as a result further market engagement would be conducted regarding the letting of Building 500.

It was RESOLVED that the report be NOTED.