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ITEM EX9

EXECUTIVE – 28 OCTOBER 2003

RAISING OUR PERFORMANCE 2

Report by the Chief Executive

Background

  1. Raising our Performance was adopted as a four year strategic action plan in September 2001. It set out an ambitious programme of organisational improvement based on 20 action points. The Executive has received regular progress reports on these actions.

  2. Half way through the four year period of the plan is an opportune moment to review the document and update it. Many of the original objectives have been met, and it is important both to acknowledge this and to refocus attention on those objectives that have proved to be more challenging.

  3. Our approach to performance management is now much more fully developed, and the Comprehensive Performance Assessment has reinforced the need for us to adopt a rigorous approach to organisational planning and monitoring.

  4. The attached draft Raising our Performance 2 (download as .rtf file) therefore seeks to build on our recent progress, refocus our efforts and support our ambition to become an outstanding authority. It contains a detailed implementation plan, with clear actions, timetables and accountabilities, that expands on pages 23-24 of the current Oxfordshire Plan. If approved by the Executive it will replace the original Raising our Performance as our strategy for improving the way in which the Council operates, and it will be included as an integral part of The Oxfordshire Plan.

  5. The document has been developed by the County Council Management Team. Consultation has taken place with Heads of Service, who are identified as lead officers for the actions in the implementation plan, and with all managers. Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee discussed a draft of the document on 16 October, and its views will be reported to the Executive: the attached draft document incorporates them as far as possible.

    6. Financial Implications

  6. The actions in the implementation plan do not in themselves have implications for funding requirements beyond existing budgetary provision, although it is likely that some of the review work envisaged will lead to proposals being made for the redeployment of resources or for additional funding in targeted areas. Such budgetary pressures will be determined in the normal way as part of the annual budget round. The implementation plan also proposes actions to achieve further efficiency savings that could be used to support investment in both service and organisational priorities. It is proposed that in determining financial investment, priority should be given to achieving the outcomes identified in Raising our Performance 2, together with the Council’s service priorities.

    7. RECOMMENDATIONS

  7. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

          1. note the substantial organisational progress that the County Council has made during the period 2001-2003;

          2. adopt Raising our Performance 2 as the County Council’s organisational improvement plan for 2003-2005, replacing the original Raising our Performance, subject to any detailed amendments agreed with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council;

          3. give priority to supporting the objectives of Raising our Performance 2, as well as service objectives, in formulating the budget for recommendation to the Council.

RICHARD SHAW
Chief Executive

Background papers Nil

Contact Officers:
John Jackson Tel: (01865) 810163
Neil Lawrence Tel: (01865) 816036

October 2003

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