Agenda item

Report of the Chief Partnerships Officer

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a report of the Chief Partnerships Officer which indicated that the One Coventry Plan includes the Council’s vision and priorities, new ways of working, and core areas of activity to deliver the plans objectives, key strategies, and approaches. The current plan, last refreshed in 2022, covers the period from 2022-2030. It builds on the Council’s long-standing principles (being globally connected, locally committed, and working together to deliver priorities with fewer resources) and continues to set out new ways of working to help the Council face the current challenges of increasing demand and reduced real terms funding.

The annual performance report sets out the progress made towards the One Coventry Plan. For each objective, this report sets out the trends, actions taken, and performance metrics, to provide an assessment of the progress made against previous years and other places.

The Council uses agreed indicators to show progress made towards its priorities. This is supported by a wider basket of measures such as equality and perception measures that help explain the trends and story behind the headlines. Indicators are selected from key strategies and aligned to directorate priorities and equality and health inequalities objectives.

The Council’s priorities are delivered through strategies aligned to the One Coventry Plan; as set out in the performance management framework. As part of the performance management process, leadership teams within each directorate and the Corporate Leadership Team have been involved in ensuring that the organisation’s key strategies are aligned to the One Coventry Plan.

The One Coventry Plan is currently measured using 73 indicators, of which 36 indicators improved; 6 stayed the same; 15 indicators got worse; can’t say for 1 indicators; and progress is not available for the remaining 15 indicators. This means, 74% (42/57) of directional indicators (excluding cannot say or not available) improved or stayed the same. This compares to the performance seen in previous years: 69% (40/58) in 2021-22; 79% (50/63) in 2019/20, 78% (52/67) in 2018/19, 71% (42/59) in 2017/18, and 75% (43/57) in 2016/17.

Many of the Council’s key priorities have an equality dimension or address an inequality caused by economic or social circumstances.

The Committee were informed of the intention to refresh the content and regularity of the suite of performance reports available in the future and were provided with a demonstration at the meeting of an interactive dashboard programme that would facilitate this.

The Committee asked questions, made comments and sought assurances/information on a number of issues including:-

·  The importance of receiving performance data, recognising that this was not a statutory requirement

·  How members of the community can be involved in accessing performance information as well as understanding the achievements of the Council.

·  Specific performance areas including:

o  NEET numbers

o  Early Years performance

o  Migration data

o  Foreign inward investment

o  Tourism statistics

o  Fly-tipping and tip booking process.

o  Prosecutions

(It was noted that further information/data in relation to these issues would be available at an all Members Seminar to be held in the New Year) 

·  Available data from partners including the NHS and the West Midlands Police (who were in attendance at the meeting and provided data in relation to crime levels in the City)

In particular, the Committee welcomed the significant improvements in performance in Childrens Services and commended the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People and  relevant officers for work in this regard.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee:-

1)  Note the Council’s performance as set out in the performance report.

2)  Note that, where targets had not been achieved, those issues would be referred to the appropriate Scrutiny Board for further consideration

3)  Welcome the intention to refresh the content and regularity of the suite of performance reports available in future.