Issue - meetings

To consider the enclosed work programme, updated following the meeting of the Chair and Group Spokespersons.

Nigel Minns introduced this item. The One Organisational Plan (OOP) quarterly performance progress report for the period 1 April to 30 June 2019 was considered and approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 12 September 2019. That report provided an overview of progress of the key elements of the OOP, 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 presented and considered at the same Cabinet meeting.

This report focussed on information extracted from both Cabinet reports to provide the information relevant to this Committee’s remit. A strategic context and performance commentary was provided. Of the 58 KBMs, 12 were in the remit of the committee. At the quarter one position, 75% (9) of KBMs were currently on track and achieving target and there were several measures reported where performance was of particular note. Two KBMs were not on track and behind target. However, both were projected to be improving over the next reporting period. A section of the report presented KBMs where significant good performance or areas of concern needed to be highlighted. Performance for all other measures was included in an appendix. The relevant finance information from the Cabinet report was also provided, both for revenue and capital, detailing the performance thresholds and delivery of the 2017- 20 savings plan.

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

• Councillor Davies asked for an update on recruitment and retention of social workers and whether anything else could be done to assist with this. Nigel Minns advised that Warwickshire had the best data on social workers in the West Midlands, with the fewest agency staff and lowest number of vacancies. The turnover rate hadn’t improved significantly in the last year but was much improved on previous years. A new social worker retention strategy had been introduced recently.

• Councillor Chilvers asked about the average numbers of caseloads per social worker, which had reduced from 19.8 in June to 18.8 currently. The case volume did decrease at this time of year as newly qualified social workers commenced casework.