Meeting documents

12/2004

2004/5 Performance Monitoring Report:  QUARTER 1             

2004/5 Performance Monitoring Report:  QUARTER 1 [01 April – 30 June 2004]

The Leader

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Due to the change in the way Experian report “Top” town centers, no outturn will be available for Community Plan Target ED.4 this year (p4).

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Five of the indicators in this section relate to the Community Plan and grassroots work and are reporting historic data.  

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The ODPM are currently consulting on a series of proposals to amend / delete / introduce new BVPIs from April 2005.  Changes that will affect this Portfolio area relate to the potential deletion of BV 1a – 1d [Community Planning].

Community Portfolio

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Three measures have exceeded target performance levels in this quarter due to new facilities and prevention work: Local C6 [Secure Car Park Awards – 13 have now been awarded certificates; 2004/5 target = 8 (p7)]; BV 126a [domestic burglaries per 1,000 households – outturn represents a 31% decrease over the same period last year (p6)] and Local C5 [crime reduction in central Wycombe Car Parks (p7)] - although the next quarter is likely to be the most critical period for this last indicator.

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Crime statistics from Thames Valley Police and our local “Family Group” are still awaited in full hence the number of “not yet known” entries (p6-7). Results are expected toward the end of July – early August and will be reported next quarter.  

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Following discussion with the new Arts Development Officer the current Arts indicators Local C7 and C16 are to be replaced with more robust measures in the next quarter (p7).

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Five indicators within this Portfolio suite are annual calculations and will only become applicable in quarter 4 at year-end.

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The ODPM are currently consulting on a series of proposals to amend / delete  / introduce new BVPIs from April 2005.  Changes that will affect this Portfolio area relate to the potential amendment of BV 127 [community safety] (p6) and BV 177 [Community Legal Service Partnership] (p6).

Environment Portfolio

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Three indicators are currently running above target performance levels due to quick contractor response times in this quarter namely Local CS19 [Repairs to street nameplates (p9)] and Local CS21a and b [Abandoned vehicle removal (p10)].

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One measure has exceeded target due to the introduction of new facilities: LIB 048 [% public convenience sites with disabled access (p11)].  

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Response times are currently below target for Local CS17 and CS18 [health and safety and food inspections (p9] due to staffing issues, although the Division is on track to improve up to year end (pX) and Local CS20 [fly tip removals] due to size of loads at present – action is being taken to resolve this to reach / exceed target level over the next quarter (p10).

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Two indicators within this Portfolio suite are annual calculations and will only become applicable in quarter 4 at year-end.

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The ODPM are currently consulting on a series of proposals to amend / delete / introduce new BVPIs from April 2005.  Changes that will affect this Portfolio area relate to the potential amendment of BV 82 a and b [recycling and composting (p11)]; BV 84 [Kg of waste collected per head (p10)]; BV 91 [kerbside collection of recyclables (p11)] and BV 199 [cleanliness standards (p10)].

Housing Portfolio

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Four measures have exceeded target performance levels this quarter: BV 183i [average length of stay in B&B (pX)]; Local H6 [average re-let times (p13)]; Local H2 [right to buy completed within timescale (p14)] and Local H3 [% of urgent repairs completed within Government time limits (p14)].

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Two indicators are currently performing below target level: BV 183ii [average length of stay in hostel accommodation (p13)] and Local H8 [proportion of vulnerable private sector occupiers living in decent homes (p13)].  Although ‘below target’, performance for BV 183ii this quarter represents a significant improvement over last years outturn [2003/4 = 37 days; 2004/5 Target = 30 days; Quarter 1 = 31 days].  Performance is ‘below target’ for Local H8 largely due to the short lead in time since the introduction of this measure as a result of Government legislation.  Steps are in place to improve this outturn over the year.

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Two indicators within this Portfolio suite are annual calculations and will only become applicable in quarter 4 at year-end.

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The ODPM are currently consulting on a series of proposals to amend / delete / introduce new BVPIs from April 2005.  Changes that will affect this Portfolio area relate to the potential deletion of BV 185 [appointment system for repairs (p14)], amendment of: BV 63 [energy efficiency of Council owned homes (p15)]; BV 66a [rent collected (p15)]; BV 74 and 75 [consultation to determine tenant satisfaction levels (not appropriate for 2004/5)] and BV 176 [refuge places (p13)] and the introduction of three new indicators relating to repairs and maintenance, re-let times and homelessness.

Internal Affairs Portfolio

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Both indicators for Member Services Local R9 [reduction in costs] and R10 [% Members having access to WDC IT systems] have exceeded targeted performance this quarter, although R9 may change by year-end (p19).

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Target response / turnaround times are also currently being exceeded for BV 179 [local land charges (p19)].

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The rolling year to date figure for the annually calculated BV 12 [staff sickness (p18)] equates to 8.27 days, which is improving from 2003/4 year-end of 8.53 days.

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Telephone response times [Local R12a and R12b (p17)] and complaints response time [Local R14 (pX)] are currently below target performance levels.  It is reported that systems are in place to improve telephone response times over the next quarter, but it is noted that it is unlikely that we will achieve our 100% target for complaints handling within 10 days by year-end.  It was reported that letter response times [R13 (p17)] are no longer monitored at the corporate level and no return made.

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The ‘below target’ performance reported for Concessionary Fares LIB 012 [number of permits issued for reduced price travel (p19)] represents fluctuations due to the demand-led nature of this service.  The indicators in this family are being reviewed as to applicability this year.

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Two indicators within this Portfolio suite are annual calculations and will only become applicable in quarter 4 at year-end.

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The ODPM are currently consulting on a series of proposals to amend / delete / introduce new BVPIs from April 2005.  Changes that will affect this Portfolio area relate to the potential amendment of BV 11b [black and ethnic minority staff in senior management (p18)]; BV 16 [employees meeting the Disability Discrimination Act definition (p18)] and BV 17 [employees from ethnic minorities (p18)] and introduction of six new indicators covering quality of e-services, electoral registration, representation of councilors compared to the local community, cost of early retirements, quit smoking schemes and legal claims.

Leisure Portfolio

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Three ‘measures’ have exceeded target due to the introduction of new sites / bins / facilities: LIB 037 [playgrounds / play areas provided improved due to three new sites (p22)] and Local CS 11 and CS12 [extra dog waste bins installed in problem area (p22].

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Four of the “not yet known” outturns relate to usage of our sports facilities [Local CS1 and CS3] and take up rates for the Freestyle card scheme [Local CS4].  Bookable activities using the new Torex Leisure Management System appear not to be comparable with the Leisure Automated Booking System (LABs) figures previously supplied. This accounts for the apparent low numbers reported that are short of the targets set at this stage of the year. This situation will be reviewed in September once the computer system has been in place for six months. Due to the recent bad weather, numbers at Holywell Mead Outdoor Swimming Pool are also well short of their target (all p21).

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Clarification is also sought re the usage figures of Wycombe Swan [Local CS15 (p23)] for this quarter, as these are much lower than the comparable period in previous years.

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The ODPM are currently consulting on a series of proposals to amend / delete / introduce new BVPIs from April 2005.  Changes that will affect this Portfolio area relate to the potential amendment of BV 170 [museum usage (p23)].

Planning Portfolio

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Performance levels in Building Control for Local P6 [application checking for building regulations], Local P7 [market share] and Local P8 [performance against a quality performance matrix] are all currently ‘exceeding’ the set targets for 2004/5 (all p26).

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Performance in Development Control re BV 109 c [80% of other applications in 8 weeks] and Local P10 [number of decisions delegated to officers] are also exceeding target levels.  However, vacancies at senior levels and the high numbers of appeals received this quarter have caused performance to fall below target levels for BV 109 a and b [60% of major and 65% of minor applications in 8 weeks] and LIB 065 [(b) only = % of successful appeals].  Measures have been taken to rectify this situation over the next quarter (all p26).

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Four indicators within this Portfolio suite are annual calculations and will only become applicable in quarter 4 at year-end.

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The ODPM are currently consulting on a series of proposals to amend / delete / introduce new BVPIs from April 2005.  Changes that will affect this Portfolio area relate to the potential amendment of BV 200 [plan making (p25)] and introduction of three new indicators relating to heritage and conservation.

Resources Portfolio

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Target performance levels are currently being exceeded in Housing Benefits for BV 78b [processing change of circumstances] and BV 79a [correct calculation of benefit], with higher performance reported against this quarter last year for BV 79b [% payments recovered – 27.8% v 22.6%] demonstrating the hard work of the team to turn performance around following year end (all p29).

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Target response / turnaround times are also currently being exceeded for BV 8  [payment of undisputed invoices (p29)].

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Seven indicators within this Portfolio suite are annual calculations and will only become applicable in quarter 4 at year-end.

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The ODPM are currently consulting on a series of proposals to amend / delete / introduce new BVPIs from April 2005.  Changes that will affect this Portfolio area relate to the potential deletion of BV 180 [energy efficiency (p31)]; amendment of BV 9 [Council Tax collected (p29)] and BV 79b [recoverable overpayments (p29)] and the introduction of three new indicators covering cost of borrowing, budget outturns and number of smoke-free buildings.

Transport and Employment Portfolio

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Targets for Local P1 [increase sign up to car share scheme (p33)] and Local P2 [businesses engaged in Green Travel planning (p33)] have both exceeded targets due to an unanticipated large employer signing up to the car share scheme and an increase in development control related Travel Plans.

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The Business Development and Town Centre Management measures are new this year and have been adopted as part of a national pilot scheme.  It is anticipated that outturns will be available before year-end.

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The ODPM are currently consulting on a series of proposals to amend / delete / introduce new BVPIs from April 2005.  Changes that will affect this Portfolio area relate to the potential introduction of one new indicator relating to road traffic collisions.