Issue - meetings

For the Committee to consider the year end performance for the period 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022.

Pete Sidgwick, Assistant Director for Social Care and Support introduced this item. The Council Plan year end Performance Progress Report for the period 1^st April 2021 to 31^st March 2022 was considered and approved by Cabinet on 16^th June 2022. The report provided an overview of progress of the key elements of the Council Plan, specifically in relation to performance against Key Business Measures (KBMs), strategic risks and workforce management. A separate financial monitoring report for the period covering both the revenue and capital budgets, reserves and delivery of the savings plan was also provided at the same Cabinet meeting.

The Committee received a tailored report with information relevant to its remit. It provided commentary on year end performance for 2021/22. It was noted that future performance reporting would be based on the new Council Plan 2022-2027. The Cabinet had also approved the implementation of a new Performance Management Framework effective from 1^st April 2022, which would provide a sharpened focus on performance and trajectory to support delivery of the Council’s new priorities and areas of focus.

Members were reminded of the two high level outcomes within the Council Plan and progress to achieve these outcomes was assessed against 54 KBMs, of which 12 were within the remit of the Committee. One of these had been paused as a result of ongoing data restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. Of the remaining 11 KBMs, nine were on track and two were not.

A series of tables were included in the report, to pull out key information around achievement of KBMs, a summary of performance from the Power Bi report and an area of note around reporting of domestic abuse incidents. Additional information was provided for those areas which were ‘not on track’, including one which required escalation on the percentage of successful completions as a proportion of all in treatment. A further table showed the forecast performance projection, it being expected that both of the KBMs that currently were not on track, would remain static over the forthcoming period.

The report concluded with the financial commentary for the revenue budget, delivery of the savings plan, the capital programme and risk management.

The following questions and comments were submitted, with responses provided as indicated:

• Discussion took place about the changes to inspection requirements for care homes. These would now take place only where there was intelligence of significant concerns. Pete Sidgwick explained the changes that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had introduced to care home inspections during the Covid pandemic. A more targeted approach was expected for the future, focussing on those homes which had significant issues. For the County Council this was about its quality assurance role and a range of other information sources were available. Currently, the aim was to return to a ‘business as usual’ approach.  This also applied to CQC regulation of the reablement service.
• A question was submitted about underspends of budgets. Generally, these were not carried forward to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7