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ITEM EX19

EXECUTIVE – 16 MARCH 2004

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT – QUARTERLY MONITORING REPORT

PROGRESS AGAINST PRIORITIES AND TARGETS FOR 2003/04

Report by County Council Management Team

1. This report reflects performance at the end of the 3rd Quarter 2003 (ending 31 December 2003) against Oxfordshire Plan priorities, Public Service Agreement targets and key performance indicators that are either (a) incorporated as part of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment or (b) have been designated ‘high risk’ by the Audit Commission.

Oxfordshire Plan Priorities

2. The Oxfordshire Plan 2003 – 2004 contains 49 priorities. Our estimate of progress at this stage is as follows:

• 76% -on course
• 6% - not on course
• 18% - not yet clear

3. The relevant Executive Member and Director have investigated those priorities which are not on course and have agreed remedial action (see Annex 1).

Public Service Agreement

4. The Public Service Agreement contains 12 challenging targets, negotiated with central government, which focus on areas of importance to the authority. The agreement started on 1 April 2003 and ends on 31 March 2006 by which time, if all targets are achieved, Oxfordshire will receive a Performance Reward Grant of £13 million. It is too early to predict with confidence the likelihood of meeting several of these targets. Our assessment at this stage is as follows:

• 33% - on course
• 0% - not on course refers to 31 March 2006 deadline
• 67% - not yet clear

5. The relevant Executive member and Director have investigated those priorities not on target and have agreed remedial action (see Annex 2) (download as .doc file).
   
   
6. Discussions are taking place with PSA Champions to assess the adequacy of the action being taken.

Key Performance Indicators

7. The County Council is required to monitor and report on performance against 150 Best Value Performance Indicators, and a full report on these will be submitted to the Executive on 1 June 2004.
8. We have identified a ‘set’ of 33 BVPIs which are either used by the Audit Commission in its CPA model or are regarded as ‘High Risk’. This means that they may be used by the relevant inspectorates for Education and Social Services in making their judgements; are new indicators; or indicators where we have a poor history of performance/accuracy of information).
9. This report focuses on this smaller number of priority indicators. Our assessment at this stage is as follows:

• 64% - on course
• 27% - not on course
• 9% - not yet clear

10. The relevant Executive Member and Director have reviewed those priorities not on target and have agreed remedial action (see Annex 3) (download as .doc file).

Key Features

11. Areas of particular concern where action is being taken to improve our performance include:

Oxfordshire Plan Priorities

12. One area where concerted action is being taken to meet our targets is in school achievement at GCSE level. The Oxfordshire Plan target is also a PSA target and is therefore challenging. Although this year’s GCSE results were disappointing, performance at Key Stage 3 was very encouraging and strategies are in place to sustain this improvement through to GCSE.

Key Performance Indicators

13. Condition of non-principal roads has declined over the past year. An action plan is in place to ensure that deterioration is identified sooner and action taken earlier.
14. There has been an increase in the number of people killed on our roads and a Best Value Review is being undertaken to understand the reasons for this. However, the overall figures for road users killed or seriously injured have continued their downward trend.

RECOMMENDATION

15. It is RECOMMENDED that Executive Members and PSA Champions include these areas of concern in their regular reviews of performance with Directors and satisfy themselves that effective remedial action is in place.
    
    

COUNTY COUNCIL MANAGEMENT TEAM

Background papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Sean Gibson, Tel: 01865 815482

March 2004

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