Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive – Principal Performance Manager, Assistant Chief Executive’s.

The Chairman asked the Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager, Tom Gorman to speak to Members in relation to the Review of the Council Plan and Service Plans (for copy see file of minutes).

The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager referred Members to the report noting the refresh of the Council Plan for 2016-19 and the associated draft objectives and outcomes.  It was added that while there were no proposed changes to the performance indicator set, there was work ongoing regarding the indicator set.  It was added that it was proposed that targets would remain the same, until after any new indicators were developed, with target setting to follow accordingly. 

Members noted that as changes to benefits came into effect, the reporting of JSA figures would be phased out and replaced with reporting based on Universal Credit (UC), however there would be a need to understand what those new figures represented.  It was explained that he Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) were developing an indicator based upon “claimant count”, although currently the figure they produced now was based upon “experimental data”.  Members were reminded that the current JSA figures were broken down into sub-sets, those 18-24 year olds in receipt and also those claiming for 12 months or more, and new indicators for UC would also include an overall total figure in addition.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager added that as the unemployment rate was a figure often quoted in the press it was proposed to include this as an indicator, alongside the proportion of the working age population not in work that wanted a job, and that those set of indicators should help to give a more complete picture in terms of employment and benefit claims for the county.

It was noted that there were discussions ongoing as regards the indicator referring to the number of registered businesses in County Durham and whether this should be deleted, and also the number of businesses engaged with by VCD was felt not to be robust and was also proposed for deletion.  Members noted that Officers would be looking at the Quarter 2 figures to see whether the targets set were realistic and robust.

The Chairman recalled that in the past there had been special sessions with all Scrutiny Members in looking at the indicator sets and target setting and would speak to the Vice-Chairman and Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as regards this.  The Chairman noted that indicators referring to VCD were listed as tracker indicators, however, as VCD was part of the Council he asked whether it should be listed as a target indicator.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager noted as regards the VCD indicator and would discuss with the Service Grouping.  The Chairman noted the review of the Council’s Regeneration Statement coming next year and that this should reflect and compliment the Council Plan.

Councillor J Clare noted that while the indicator referring to the number of businesses engaged with by VCD may not be robust in terms of the tourism economy, the indicator could be seen as an indication of the performance of VCD.  The Chairman referred to the recently completed scrutiny review looking at marketing undertaken by VCD which had made recommendations in relation to performance indicators for VCD and commented that indicators should not be removed. 

Councillor J Armstrong noted that he would liaise with the Head of Planning and Performance and the Corporate Scrutiny and Performance Manager and come back to the Committee as regards indicators.    

Resolved:

(i)          That the updated position on the development of the Council Plan and the corporate performance indicator set be noted.

(ii)         That the draft objectives and outcomes framework attached as Appendix 2 to the report be noted.

(iii)       That the comments on the draft performance indicators proposed for 2016/17 for the Altogether Wealthier priority theme contained within Appendix 3 be noted

(iv)       That the comments made by Members on current targets in Appendix 3 and for target setting for 2016/17 onwards be noted.