Agenda item

The Service Manager for Performance Management and Engagement gave a presentation on each section of her draft service plan for 2007/08:

Section 1 – Setting the Scene: the service covered three main areas: peformance management, communications & PR and consultation.

Section 2 – Where are we now?: details were given for each area of the service. Because the council lacked a performance management strategy and there was low awareness of performance management, resources for a dedicated officer were included in the plan. In relation to consultation, there was concern that there was not enough cross-section working on consultation and that results of public consultation were not always fed back to participants.  

Section 3 – Where do we need to be?: the completed SWOT and PESTLE analyses were explained. Various related matters were raised by the panel and answered by the officer.

Section 4 – How do we get there?: objectives in the action plan were explained and resource estimates circulated. One of the objectives was to achieve improved corporate identification on signage. The panel was concerned that there had been little member consultation on the new corporate identity. It was agreed that the Chief Executive be contacted about this. The panel also considered the object to improve the intranet for staff.

Section 5 – Gershon & Efficiency: figures were circulated at the meeting.

Section 6 – Financial Summary: updated figures were circulated at the meeting.

Section 7 – Risk: identified risks were circulated at the meeting.

Conclusions:

Having reviewed the 2007/08 service plan for Finance and Risk Management against the Gateway Review 2 checklist, the Resources DSP found that:

1. All budget figures for the current year and future years had been identified in the service plan.
2. All staffing resources had been identified and costed in the service plan.
3. All other relevant costs had been identified and included in the service plan.
4. There was clear quantification of how the service contributed towards the council priorities.
5. Any relevant inflationary increases had been absorbed.
6. The balanced score card was complete and evidenced.
7. Any relevant income streams had been reviewed and inflationary increases applied.
8. Gershon efficiency savings had been identified and evidenced.
9. Risks had been identified and actions for mitigation applied.
10. Any major deviations to the current budget had been identified.
11. Equality costs were not relevant.
12. Section 4 of the service plan had been adequately completed and resources costs identified.
13. The SWOT analysis had been completed.
14. The PESTLE analysis had been completed.
15. The financial summary had been completed.
16. The major procurement proposal for the next three years had been identified and costed.
17. Service staff had been consulted on compilation of the service plan. 
18. There were no capital projects identified for the next 3-5 years.

Other observations made were:

The Engagement DSP be recommended that it requests the Chief Executive to ensure that all public consultation exercises are coordinated with the Business Management Officer.   

The Chief Executive be asked to write to all members of the Resources DSP explaining how the new corporate identity was decided and how much it cost the council, and the intentions for district signage and how members would be consulted on this.

The Access and Modernisation Working Group be asked to consider a survey for staff on the content of the council’s intranet.