Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document
Meeting of the Executive held on 03/02/2004
APPENDIX I - BEST VALUE AND LOCAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: REVIEW OF WAVERLEY'S PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2003/2004 AND PROPOSED TARGETS FOR 2006/2007
Summary & Purpose
This report gives details of Waverley’s performance during the first six months of 2003/04 and invites the Executive to approve the proposed targets for 2006/07 in respect of the Council’s best value and local performance indicators. Similar reports have already been presented to the Community, Environment and Leisure and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committees regarding those indicators that fall within their particular remits and a summary of the comments made by the Members of each of these committees is included in this report.
Quality of Life Implications
Natural
Resource Use
Pollution
Prevention and Control
Biodiversity
and Nature
Local
Environment
Social
Inclusion
Safe, Healthy
and Active
Communities
Local
Economy
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
APPENDIX I
WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE – 3RD FEBRUARY 2004
________________________________________________________________________
Title
:
Best Value and Local Performance Indicators: Review of Waverley’s
Performance within the first six months of 2003/04 and Proposed
Targets for 2006/07
[Wards Affected: All]
_________________________________________________________________________
Summary and purpose
:
This report gives details of Waverley’s performance during the first six months of 2003/04 and invites the Executive to approve the proposed targets for 2006/07 in respect of the Council’s best value and local performance indicators. Similar reports have already been presented to the Community, Environment and Leisure and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committees regarding those indicators that fall within their particular remits and a summary of the comments made by the Members of each of these committees is included in this report.
_________________________________________________________________________
Quality of life implications
– social, environmental & economic (sustainable development):
Natural Resource Use
Pollution Prevention and Control
Biodiversity and Nature
Local Environment
Social Inclusion
Safe, Healthy and Active Communities
Local Economy
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
Positive
The regular monitoring and reporting of Waverley’s performance in delivering its services has positive implications for most, if not all, the quality of life issues set out above.
E-Government implications
:
Comprehensive information on Waverley’s performance has been provided in the Best Value Performance Plan that was published on the Council’s website on 30th June 2003.
Resource and legal implications
:
There are no direct resource and legal implications associated with this report.
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Background
1. Each year the Council is required to produce a Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP) that reports on its performance during the previous year and sets targets for the current year and the subsequent two years. The Council’s BVPP will be published by 30th June 2004. Targets for 2004/05 and 2005/06 were approved by the Executive at its meeting on 23rd June 2003.
Waverley’s performance in 2003/04 and proposed targets for 2006/07
2. The table attached as
Annexe 1
sets out, for the consideration of the Executive, the following information:
Ø
A description of all the Council’s Best Value Indicators (BVPIs) and Local Performance Indicators (LOPIs).
Ø
The Council’s actual performance in respect of each indicator for 2002/03.
Ø
The Council’s actual performance in respect of each indicator for the first two quarters of the current financial year, 2003/04, and the target for 2003/04.
Ø
The agreed or revised proposed targets (where indicated in the commentary) for each indicator for 2004/05 and 2005/06, and the proposed targets for 2006/07.
3. Officers are reviewing presentations of performance indicator information for members. It is proposed to present this information in a more accessible format and members suggestions as to how this information should look in future would be helpful.
Principles of target setting
4. Target setting is key to enable the authority to demonstrate that it is achieving best value and needs to be well documented. Targets should take into account the performance of other authorities in Waverley’s Audit Commission family, as well as the performance of neighbouring authorities, and should reflect the aims and objectives of the authority’s corporate strategy.
5. Target setting must also be challenging in order to demonstrate that the authority is seeking continued improvement.
Comments on Waverley’s performance and proposed targets
6. Members are asked to note the following points in relation to Waverley’s performance for the first two quarters of the current financial year and the proposed targets for 2006/07. Comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees will be circulated as an additional annexe(s) -
to follow
.
Environmental Services
BVPI 82a: Household waste that is recycled (%)
The Council aims to be recycling 24% of household waste by 31 March 2004. The Government aim is 36% by 2005/06.
BVPI 86: Cost per household of waste collection
The target for 2003/04 (an increase of 29.5% on the target for 2002/03) reflects substantial additional investment in the service, provision for inflation and the pay award.
BVPI 91: Population served by kerbside collection of recyclables (%)
The targets for 2004/05 and 2005/06 have been increased from 95% to 100%.
BVPI 166: Score against best practice checklist (%)
The target for 2004/05 has been raised from 48.00% to 55.00%. The target for 2005/06 has also been raised from 50.00% to 70.00%.
Planning
BVPI 106: New homes built on previously developed land (%)
Previously agreed target for 2003/04 was 90.00% but is being reduced in expectation of exceptional affordable housing schemes coming forward.
BVPI 107: Planning cost per head of population
Targets reflect additional investment in the service and the provision for the pay award. Government is to scrap this BVPI next year.
BVPI 109
Achieving full staffing by February will help to improve performance. Performance dropped in the second quarter due largely to the implementation of the SX3 computer system. The targets reflect national targets. The Government has set Waverley a target of 58% for BVPI 109(b). Members might wish to note that minor applications includes applications for up to ten dwellings.
BVPI 188
The Government is proposing to delete this as a national BVPI next year.
Cultural Services
LOLE 15: Number of major sports grant awards
Unlikely to meet target as Sport England suspended funding in 2003/04
LOLE 24: Number of volunteer days spent at work on Waverley land
Will not meet target due to a reduction in core staffing
LOLE 29 (b): percentage conforming to LEAP standard
(c) percentage conforming to NEAP standard
Targets will not be met as there have been changes to the NPFA standards and some of our existing sites
no longer conform.
LOLE 33: Number of educational sessions provided by (a) Farnham Museum
(b) Godalming Museum
Targets will not be met due to staff shortages.
General Corporate Health
BVPI 3: Citizens satisfied with overall service provided
Overall satisfaction has fallen slightly from the last general survey in 2001 but dissatisfaction hasn’t increased. The results of the satisfaction survey in 2003 are very similar to the level in 2001 with just a few less respondents expressing satisfaction. Detailed findings are set out in the SSMR report which is available in the Members’ room. The target of 75% in 2003/04 is not met. The target proposed for 2006/07 is 75% which is realistic given the recent satisfaction survey and the opportunity to deliver improvement following Comprehensive Performance Assessment.
BVPI 4: Complainants satisfied with the handling of the complaint (%)
Satisfaction with complaints handling has fallen significantly from the last general survey in 2001 and dissatisfaction has increased. There is a possible correlation between the level of satisfaction and the nature of the complaint, most complaints being around waste collection, street cleaning/litter, problems with repairs/contractors and planning. Detailed findings are set out in the SSMR report which is available in the Members’ room. The target of 55% in 2003/04 is not met. The target proposed for 2006/07 is 55% which is realistic given the recent satisfaction survey and the improvement that is expected as a result of the recent changes to the complaints handling system.
BVPI 8: Undisputed invoices paid within 30 days
This indicator measures the percentage of undisputed invoices paid within 30 days. Significant improvements in the proportion of invoices paid promptly have been achieved in recent years and the council’s performance is now consistently above 97%. However, this is short of the Government’s target that 100% of all undisputed invoices should be paid within 30 days.
BVPI 12: The average working day/shifts lost due to sickness per FTE
The data required to calculate this Performance Indicator is temporarily unavailable because of a temporary malfunction of the Personnel Information System. The system is currently (8th Dec 2003) being repaired. When the data becomes available a new informed target will be proposed for 2003/04 and targets will be proposed for 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2006/07.
BVPI 14 & 15: Early retirements and Ill health retirements as % of workforce
The targets for 2006/07 for these performance indicators should be regarded as upper limits. Any outturn which is less than the target figure indicates a better than target performance.
BVPI 157: Interactions with public capable of electronic service delivery
The targets for 2003/04 and 2004/05 have changed from 88% and 100% to 57% and 80% respectively.
LOCE 2: percentage of reports sent “to follow”
In terms of the percentage of reports sent ‘to follow’ the agenda despatch, this includes those reports from the Development Control area sub-committees when the meeting has taken place after the agenda for the Development Control Committee has been despatched.
Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit
BVPI 76(a-d): Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit - combating fraud and error
This set of indicators is new – the Council has not measured its performance in relation to benefit fraud investigation in this way before. Therefore no targets have yet been set for these indicators. Targets will be set for 2004/05 to reflect the Government’s new requirements in this area.
BVPI 78 (a-c) & 79 (a & b): Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit – processing of claims and accuracy of calculation
Performance has deteriorated during the first six months of this year due to the implementation of the new Benefits IT system, the introduction of tax credits and pension credits and very significantly, problems recruiting a new Benefits Manager. Officers are looking to re-establish performance to normal levels over the remaining two quarters of the current year and to achieve upper quartile improvement again from April 2004.
Finance Department – Local Indicators
LOBT 3: Average rate of return on the Council’s investments compared with the average 7-day LIBID rate
This indicator measures how well the Council’s investments have performed compared to prevailing interest rates available to local authorities. The target for 2003/04 is unachievable because interest rates are lower than those prevailing when the target was set but performance remains good.
LOBT 5: Percentage of insurance claims notified to insurers within five working days
The Finance department have increased their 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 targets from 98% to 100%.
Housing
BVPI 62: Unfit private sector dwellings made fit/demolished – direct LA action (%)
The target for 2006/07 is a reduction on previous targets as renovation grants will be removed and there will be a reassessment of the number of unfit properties as a result of the house condition survey.
BVPI 63: Average SAP energy efficiency rating of LA owned dwellings
This PI measures the energy efficiency of the Council’s housing stock. Performance is already equivalent to the top quartile for district councils. Continuing improved performance depends on works being carried out to homes, which can take place at any time during the year and are subject to the availability of funding. Whether or not such works are carried out in any one quarter is not an indicator of performance but simply a matter of programming. Therefore, it is not considered appropriate to report this PI quarterly. Targets for the next three years reflect a gradual improvement in performance.
BVPI 64: Number of private sector dwellings vacant for six months and reoccupied due to LA action
This indicator measures the number of empty private sector dwellings that are returned into occupation or demolished as a direct result of action by the authority. This now includes demolitions by housing associations. The number of empty homes is derived from council tax records on an annual basis. It is not therefore practicable to report this PI on a quarterly basis. It is also very difficult to predict future numbers of empty homes particularly when looking three years ahead and targets have been set at a consistent level accordingly. Targets
for forthcoming years have been set lower than the 2002/03 outturn of 17 as this included 12 units demolished by Registered Social Landlords. Further demolition is not expected and therefore this is reflected in the target with the expectation that a consistent number of properties will be brought back into use as a result of action by the local authority.
BVPI 66a: Proportion of rent collected
Waverley’s performance in 2002/03 was above the average level of all district councils in 2001/02. Performance is calculated according to the annual rent receivable. It is not therefore appropriate and could be misleading to produce quarterly reports. A full year estimate has been calculated instead. Targets for the next three years reflect a consistent high level of anticipated rent collection.
BVPIs 74 and 75: Satisfaction of tenants
Both these PIs relate to tenant satisfaction and will be updated in the current year from a survey carried out in autumn 2003, the results of which will be available in January 2004. Targets for the next two years reflect expected improvements in satisfaction levels derived from the latest survey. The targets for 2006/07 are based on anticipated further increases in satisfaction which will be measured by the next satisfaction survey, due to be carried out in autumn 2006.
BVPI 164: CRE’s code of practice in rented housing
An action plan was developed during 2002/03 to ensure Waverley was able to comply with the Good Practice Standards for Social Landlords on Tackling Racial Harassment in addition to the CRE code of practice in rented housing, which was added to this PI from 2002/03. Future years’ targets reflect continued compliance.
BVPI 183: Average length of stay of homeless households
Performance in 2002/03 was better than expected with regard to the average time spent by homeless households in hostel accommodation but worse than anticipated for the time spent in bed and breakfast. Quarter 2 results for the current year relate to only one household each in bed and breakfast and hostel accommodation. For the first six months of 2003/04, this equates to four weeks in bed and breakfast and 40 weeks in hostels (both within target). Targets for the next three years are set to represent continuing improvement in reducing the use of bed and breakfast.
BVPI 184: Proportion (and percentage change) of LA homes which were non-decent
Targets have not yet been set for this indicator, which measures the proportion of Council homes that are non-decent and changes year-on-year. The original estimate is based on stock condition data from 2000 that has not yet been updated. Surveys have now been carried out on 25% of the housing stock. This data is being analysed and will be used to update this indicator in January 2004. It will then be possible to set targets according to the availability of funds to carry out Decent Homes works. However, the speed at which the Council progresses towards achieving the Government’s Decent Homes targets will depend on the outcome of the stock options appraisal.
BVPI 185: Percentage of responsive repairs for which an appointment was made and kept
The appointment of new measured term contractors resulted in much improved performance in providing tenants with appointments for responsive repairs between 2000 and 2003. However, on the face of it there appears to have been a fall in performance during the first two quarters of 2003/04. This, however, is a result of working together with contractors to provide more accurate information, which has led to more stringent recording mechanisms, with less room for error. Targets for the next three years have been set to reflect continuous improvement in performance.
LOHO30: Proportion of homelessness applications which LA makes decision on and issues written notification to applicant within 33 days
Streamlined procedures have been introduced to further reduce the time taken to carry out homelessness investigations, measured by this indicator. Performance for the second quarter of the current year is much improved but, cumulatively, it is still below target. Targets for the next three years have been set to reflect significantly improved performance.
LOHO31: Average relet time for local authority dwellings let in the financial year
The average re-let time for Waverley owned dwellings has much improved due to reduced repair times and accompanied viewings leading to fewer refusals. Slippage in performance during the second quarter of the current year has been partly caused by systems problems for recording the use of properties for decanting purposes and by delays in void repairs. It should be noted, however, that a very small number of voids subject to delay can result in an apparent significant dip in performance in a quarterly report. The effect over the full year should be much more marginal. The problem with recording decants has now been resolved and much improved performance is now expected for the remainder of the year. Targets for the next three years have been set to reflect continuing improvements although at a reduced level taking account of the maximum performance likely to be achievable.
LOH032 and 33: Percentage of repairs completed and tenant satisfaction
Performance for the first two quarters of the current year in relation to the time taken to carry out repairs and satisfaction of tenants with the service has exceeded targets. Targets for the next three years anticipate continuous improvements in performance.
LOH07: Percentage of gas safety checks and annual gas boiler services that have been carried out within 12 months of previous gas safety checks and annual services, compared with those that should have been carried out
Although the percentage of gas safety checks carried out during 2002/03 improved, it was not possible to achieve the target due to difficulties in gaining access to some tenants’ homes. Great efforts have been made to contact tenants including home visits on Saturdays. Performance during the second quarter of the current year shows some improvement but the 100% target for the year will not be achieved. Targets of 100% have nevertheless been set for the next three years reflecting the importance attached to achieving gas safety checks in all tenants’ homes.
LOHO 34, 35 and 36: Rent arrears recovery
These indicators relating to rent arrears recovery continue to show improvements in performance. Targets for the next three years reflect continuing, gradual improvements.
LOHO37: Number of possession orders obtained from the courts on grounds of rent arrears
This indicator was deleted following a Departmental review of local performance indicators as it was considered that the number of possession orders obtained from the Courts had little bearing on performance in relation to the recovery of rent arrears.
LOHO38: Number of people given assistance to purchase their homes
The number of people given assistance to purchase their homes under various schemes was deleted as a local performance indicator as performance is wholly dependent on the availability of funds rather than the interventions of staff.
LOHO17: Number of new tenants interviewed prior to their tenancy commencing
This indicator measures the proportion of new tenants interviewed by a member of the housing management team at the commencement of their tenancy. This is an important element in helping tenants to sustain their tenancy and reduce rent arrears. Performance for the first half of the year is on target and targets for the next three years have been set to reflect continuous improvement.
LOHO26: percentage of installations of careline equipment in customers’ homes carried out within 5 working days of request
This indicator relating to the installation of Careline alarms has been deleted following a Departmental review of local performance indicators. Performance at 100% had been consistently achieved over a three-year period. Therefore it was not considered that this indicator would provide any more meaningful information.
Community Legal Service
No comments.
Community Safety
BVPI 126,127 &128: Domestic burglaries, violent crimes and vehicle crimes
Local targets were not set in advance for 2002/03. The local targets set for BVPI’s 126 &128 for 2003/04 and 2004/05 are in line with the 2002–2005 Community Safety Strategy. This strategy does not specifically break the areas of violent crime into the categories within BVPI 127; targets have therefore been set for BVPI 127 temporarily at 2002/03 levels.
Targets for 2005/06 and 2006/07 have been temporarily set at 2004/05 levels.
Waverley are unable to determine whether quarter one and quarter two 2003/04 figures for BVPI’s 127 & 128 are on or off target as these need to be clarified by the local Police taking into account seasonal variations.
Local targets for BVPI’s 126, 127 & 128 and quarterly comments may need to be amended in the light of future discussions with the local Police.
In developing the 2005 Community Safety Strategy, the setting of targets and the definition of local indicators will be addressed in consultation with Waverley’s partners.
Local authorities are not required to report on the percentage of crimes detected.
BVPI 174 & 175: Racial incidents
The system for recording racial incidents was established in 2002/03.
Conclusion
The Executive is asked to consider the information presented in this report including the proposed targets for 2006/07.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Executive agrees the proposed targets for 2006/07.
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Background Papers
(DoH/DoF/CEX)
There are no background papers (as defined by Section 100D(5) of the Local Government Act 1972) relating to this report.
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CONTACT OFFICERS:
Name: Sue Petzold Telephone: 01483 523202
E-mail: spetzold@waverley.gov.uk
comms/executive/2003/2004/030 35187