Agenda and draft minutes

1.1

Welcome and housekeeping arrangements were explained.

2.1

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Bryan Lodge, Councillor Julie Grocutt and Councillor Penny Baker.

3.1

No items were identified where resolutions may be moved to exclude the public and press.

4.1

There were no declarations of interest.

5.1

Minutes of previous meeting held on 7 July 2021 were agreed to be a true record.

6.1

There were no public questions or petitions.

7.1

Present for this item was James Henderson (Director of Policy, Performance and Communications) and Nicola McHugh – Business Intelligence & Performance Manager

7.2

An early draft of the new Corporate Performance Framework was presented. It was explained that there is a commitment within the one-year plan to become a more performance focussed organisation and that the framework feeds into that goal. The performance management cycle was set out and explained to the committee. The 4 performance lenses were explained to be around service, customers, financial and workforce. It was also explained that the set of measures being utilised within the framework have been chosen to provide sufficient confidence within the data so that it is timely, accurate and can be used for comparative purposes. It was stated that it is important to assess progress at a city-wide level and by Local Area Committee wherever possible. The importance of maintaining flexibility within the framework was emphasised, so that it could accommodate changing priorities or emerging challenges. The use of improvement on technological infrastructures and the benefits was also explained. It was stated that the plans are still in a draft stage and feedback on the framework from the committee was encouraged.

7.3

Members of the Committee raised questions, and the following responses were provided:

·       It was explained that the ability for the performance framework to be disaggregated according to the themes of the new committees, once determined, was an important consideration in the design of the new framework It was explained that the hope is to be able to have a framework which can effectively split out between the committees resulting in a line of sight between committee responsibility and the relevant performance measures in the corporate framework.  The role of the new committees in holding services to account for delivery will be important and having effective performance information to support this is crucial for the committees to be able to undertake this successfully.

·       It was explained that there is already some information available at small area geographies (including lower super output areas for the Indices of Deprivation) and that this information can be used to look at performance for some measures at those levels as opposed to averages over wards.

·       It was outlined that the Performance and Intelligence team were working closely with Community Safety and Youth Services to identify the best measures to use for these areas. It was stated that these will be added into the framework in addition to what is already listed.

·       It was suggested that a conversation should be had with the planning department around responsiveness as this fall under the realm of customer measures.  Officers confirmed that discussions would be held with Planning about whether such a measure could be included in the framework.   In response to a question about the timescales for the Local Plan, it was stated that there was a report to the Co-operative Executive recently about the Local Development Framework which sets these out. 

·       It was explained that the wording  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.1

Present for this item was Alice Nicholson (Policy & Improvement Officer).

8.2

A report was presented on the Draft Work Plan. It was stated that the 3 areas in the plan had been looked at by the committee. It was explained that there are potential actions which can be carried on by the working groups, outside of the committee meetings which will be beneficial. It was suggested that the iteration of the 3-year Corporate Plan should be added as an agenda item for the next meeting. It was suggested to Members that they should now consider what they want to look at moving forwards. 

8.3

Members of the Committee raised questions, and the following responses were provided:

·       It was questioned as to whether the timetabling for future approach to priority budgeting allows for some ongoing work soon.

·       It was clarified that it is an iterative process and the early approach this year was to get committees used to the idea of considering their priorities and informing work next year. It was suggested that a future conversation will need to happen to discuss the approach to this. It was responded that currently it is not directly time urgent. It was suggested that committees could discuss their ideas at any point.

·       It was suggested that an item agenda for future approach to priority budgeting be added for the January 2022 meeting alongside the 3-year corporate plan item.

·       It was suggested that 3 working groups be set up for next year.

·       It was clarified that correspondence had been sent out following the previous meeting to enquire which working groups Members’ would like to attend.

·       The link between housing repairs/maintenance and customer services/contact centre priorities were clarified. 

8.4

RESOLVED: That the Committee:- (a) Working groups to be established by January 2022. (b) Alice Nicholson to send email to Members’ following the meeting regarding working group details.