Agenda item

Richard Fitzgerald (Business Intelligence Manager – Performance) was in attendance for this item.

1)    Miss Carey introduced this report which set out the key areas of performance for the authority.  The strength of this report was that the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) had been measured consistently over a long period.  The report brought together an overview of the Council with just 34 KPIs.  Each Cabinet Committee looked in more detail at their own directorate. 

2)    Mr Fitzgerald set out the highlights of the report, it was the Quarter 1 report with results up to the end of June 2018.  Performance was generally good for the quarter with the majority of indicators rated as green.  He drew out important information for Members as follows:

a.    Customer Services

                                  i.    Good performance was maintained for caller satisfaction although call volumes were up. 

b.    Economic Development

                                  i.    Jobs created and safeguarded from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) stood at 4192 jobs.  

c.    Environment and Transport

                                  i.    Following the bad weather in early 2018 outstanding works were high at the end of June, the pot hole blitz continued over the summer and so it was hoped that figures in the next report should be lower. 

                                ii.    Waste Management performance was maintained with only 1% of waste going to landfill.

d.    Children, Young People and Education

                                  i.    The provision primary attainment results were above the national average

                                ii.    Percentage of schools good or outstanding 91%

                               iii.    Apprenticeship starts have not shown the levels expected but the numbers should improve as we move into the new financial year.

                               iv.    There continued to be pressure on the completion of Education, Health and Care Plans and this was significantly off tartget.  There were high levels of demand and this was expected to continue. 

e.    Integrated Children’s Services

                                  i.     Early help closed with outcomes achieved was ahead of target,

                                ii.    Number of children in care remained stable.

f.     Adult Social Care

                                  i.    Contacts resolved at first point of contact remained above target.

                                ii.    Admissions to residential nursing care were higher than expected and number of people experiencing delayed transfer of care continued to be a pressure

g.    Public Health

                                  i.    Health Checks completed in year was below target but this was a temporary issue relating to IT systems. 

                                ii.    Number of universal checks completed by the health visitor continued to be ahead of target.

3)    In conclusion there were many positive results, areas where performance was lower than expected were being monitored and were subject to management action. 

4)    The Leader commented on the rising number of placements into nursing care, it was important to ensure that health partners were paying their fair contribution.  Regarding young people in care, it was thought that there should be a report on those leaving care with an additional column to monitor this. 

5)    Mr Whiting (Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste) explained that his portfolio was above target for all indicators.  He drew Members attention to the 100,000 LED lights which was part of the largest programme in the country delivering £5million savings to the authority.  He paid tribute to the contractors and staff who had brought that about.  Referring to Brexit the service continued to work with partners to secure plans for all scenarios from deal to no deal.  One waste management it was necessary to be vigilant but less than 1% waste was being sent to landfill, half of the remaining 99% was made into energy and the remainder was being recycled in other ways. 

6)    Mr Gibbens (Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health) referred to delayed transfers of care, this was a significant issue and a report would be brought to Cabinet in December.  Regarding safeguarding, initial contacts had increased, people were encouraged to bring enquiries forward to be investigated. 

7)    Mr Gibbens referred to life expectancy and health inequalities which was widening in Kent.  This was a national trend but was nothing to be proud of and it should be addressed, relevant reports would be requested for the Cabinet Committees.   

8)    Mr Gough (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education) referred to the growth in Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) per 1000 school age population.  There had been a dramatic increase since 2016 and this was the main red indicator which was being focussed on.  Many other indicators were positive with a good level of development such as KS2 outcomes, school places and ofsted judgements.             

9)    Miss Carey referred to the risk register and specifically safeguarding, there would be further independent audits of case files to complement existing internal reviews and audits taking place in March 2019.  The risk register was not just about identifying risks it was about mitigating them.  Risks could also be marked down and raised as appropriate, depending on how the mitigating actions progressed. 

10) The Leader stated that a report was due to Policy and Resources Cabinet Committee on the benefit changes on migration out of London, the indicators a year ago suggested there was not the impact that was first expected but this report was awaited. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the Quarter 1 Performance Report.