Minutes for Cabinet Member - Performance and Governance meeting, Jan 20 2009, 9.00AM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brennan, Friel, Maher and Moncur.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

The Cabinet Member welcomed Members and Officers to the Portfolio Monitoring and Review Meeting for consideration of Quarter 2 six monthly performance reports 2008/09 for the Planning, Regeneration and Corporate Services portfolios.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Management)

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) advising that the purpose of this meeting was to present Quarter 2 six monthly performance reports; that the Council had undertaken biannual Performance Review Meetings over the last three years and these had now become formalised in a two session extended meeting of the Cabinet Member - Performance; that elected Members and senior officers for the Council’s services were invited to come and discuss performance over the previous six months highlighting achievements, identifying challenges and presenting solutions to problems and challenges for the consideration of the meeting; and that the Portfolio Performance Reports had already been considered by the service portfolios.

The report concluded that the Cabinet Member was asked to make recommendations arising from the consideration of the performance reports and refer matters for further consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute Nos 85 and 134 of the meetings of the Cabinet Member Regeneration and the Planning Committee, both held on 17 December 2008, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the performance of his Department for the period April to September 2008 and on the progress made towards his Department meeting its Service and Corporate Plan objectives; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to comply with the Council’s performance management process.

The report detailed the departmental service achievements relating to business support and employment services, the neighbourhood regeneration programme, major development projects, the local development framework and regulatory services; that the main risks to service delivery were set out in the Service Plan, and with regard to performance indicators, performance against all key targets was strong.

The report concluded by referring to corporate or cross-cutting issues and that as part of level 3 of the Equalities Standard, all service areas now had equalities targets on their respective service plans; However, although staff attendance records remained encouraging, it was noted that absence levels for long and short term sickness for the period April 2008 to September 2008 had shown an increase to 4.13% from 2.85%.

Officers from the Planning and Economic Regeneration Department presented the report and answered questions thereon.

RESOLVED:  

That the report on the performance of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Department and the progress achieved for the period April - September 2008 be noted.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Management)

Further to Minute No. 47 of the Meeting of the Cabinet Member - Corporate Services held on 12 November 2008, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Legal Director on progress made towards implementation of the Legal and Administrative Services Department Service Plan 2008/09.

The Legal Director presented the report and answered questions thereon, with reference to the achievements, challenges and issues affecting the Legal Department in respect of Overview and Scrutiny and seeking approval to extend the deadlines for the achievement of two activities within DSP-AP-004, relating to Overview and Scrutiny until 31 March 2009, as indicated in the SPRINT report; the Modern Gov System; the Members ICT Strategy; the Lexcel System; Standards Committee; the Major Service Review; the Legal Consortium; the Childcare Team in relation to the ‘Baby P’ case; Elections; and, crucially, the loss of income from Land Charges..

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the progress towards implementation of the Legal and Administrative Services Department’s Service Plan be noted; and

(2)       the proposal to extend the deadline for the achievements within DSP-AP-004, relating to Overview and Scrutiny until 31 March 2009 as indicated in the SPRINT report be approved.

Report of the Director of Finance and Information Services

Further to Minute No. 70 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Corporate Services held on 10 December 2008, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Finance and Information Services Director on progress in relation to the Finance and Information Services element of the Corporate Services Portfolio’s Departmental Service Plan.

The report indicated that the Finance Department took responsibility for the Council’s ICT Services on 1 October 2008, as a consequence of ‘Sefton 2010’ and the Strategic partnership with Arvato Government Services (Sefton) Limited; and referred to  current service challenges,  issues and achievements in relation to the Major Service Review, ICT Services, Council Insurances, the Benefits Service, Creditors and Accounts Payable, the Central Purchasing Unit, Internal Audit and the Specialised Transport Unit; and that with regard to performance indicators, performance against all key targets was good.

The report concluded by referring to corporate or cross-cutting issues and that in relation to sickness levels although the current level of 5% was higher than the corporate target of 4%, this was an improvement on the 5.8% level for the previous 12 months; sickness was being closely managed with support of personnel advice from the Business Support Unit; and indicating the Finance Department’s responsibility for Risk management.

The Finance and Information Services Director presented the report and answered questions thereon

RESOLVED:

That the progress and achievements in respect of the Portfolio’s responsibilities within the Finance and Information Services Departmental Service Plan be noted.

Report of the Personnel Director

Further to Minute No. 51 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Corporate Services held on 12 November 2008, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Personnel Director on progress in relation to the Personnel element of the Corporate Services Portfolio’s Departmental Service Plan.

The report detailed the departmental service achievements, challenges and issues in relation in relation to the Major Service Review, the Pay and Grading Review and Equal Pay; the Occupational Health and Safety Strategy; the Apprenticeship Scheme; Train 2 Gain Programme; the Public Sector Bid, Skills for Life Strategy; Management Development and Learning at Work Days;  and that with regard to performance indicators, the Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI’s) were calculated on the workforce after the transfer from the council of approximately 600 employees under the Major Service Review, which would have been a contributory factor to the changes in the BVPI’s simply because the total number of employees on which the calculations were based had reduced; but that notwithstanding this,with regard to performance indicators, performance against all key targets was strong, as indicated in the matrix at Annex B to the report.

The report concluded by referring to the commendably low sickness levels; and the achievements and measures undertaken in relation to promoting equalities and sustainability.

The Personnel Director presented the report and answered questions thereon.

RESOLVED: That

(1)

progress and achievements in respect of the Portfolio’s responsibilities within the Personnel Departmental Service Plan be noted;

(2)

the achievements in respect of the Apprenticeship Scheme be commended; and

(3)

the use of a matrix detailing the department’s key Best Value Performance Indicators at Annex B to the report be commended.