Agenda item

A report outlining the Quarter 3 organisational performance, progress against the Integrated Delivery Plan, management of Human Resources and Risk, for the period April to December 2022.

Councillor Andy Jenns introduced the report which asked Cabinet to consider the Quarter 3 organisational performance, progress against the Integrated Delivery Plan and management of Human Resources and Risk.

This was a retrospective summary of the Council’s performance at the end of the third quarter from April to December 2022.

Councillor Jenns reminded Members that they had access to the Power BI Dashboards if they wanted to drill down into the data in more detail and he noted some of the positive aspects of performance.  These included 99% of Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme applications being supported, a decrease in the number of children subject to a Child Protection Plan and the data relating to the percentage of in year applications that had a school place offered within target deadlines.

Councillor Jenns also outlined the positive performance relating to the Management of Human Resources which included the continued decrease in the annual sickness absence rate, stabilisation of absences attributed to Covid-19 and the successful winter flu vaccination programme for Council employees.

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse stated that he was pleased to see, via the Children and Young People Overview & Scrutiny Committee, that investment was beginning to make a difference to services but noted there was still volatility in the system.  He suggested that Cabinet may want to consider how it approached partnership working, with key partners getting round the table to deliver solutions and he made reference to Domestic Abuse in particular.  He also noted the challenges that existed with HR and the workforce plan overall.

Councillor Andy Crump thanked him for highlighting the important issue of Domestic Abuse and referred to the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy which would be discussed later on the agenda.  He felt this was a great example of multi-agency working and the report detailed the list of partners and groups set up to tackle it.  Councillor Crump recognised that the decrease in the number of incidents being reported could be for a variety of reasons, but he reiterated the importance of encouraging individuals to report any instances of abuse.

Councillor Margaret Bell echoed the comments made and reiterated that domestic abuse was taken very seriously.

Councillor Martin Watson responded to the HR Management data, highlighting the relaunch of the Warwickshire Supported Employment Service (WSES) which encouraged individuals with learning disabilities and autism into the workplace and aimed to help over 400 people into paid and sustainable employment every year.  He noted that the performance measures were on track and improving, and extended his congratulations to the officers involved in this work.

The Leader, Councillor Seccombe addressed the meeting reiterating the positive work that partnership working was achieving across a variety of areas including health.  She felt this enabled officers and Members to work across the sector, allowing time to focus on the issues that mattered to residents, whilst keeping the work relevant and holding each other to account. 

Councillor Jenns thanked everyone for their comments which would be taken on board, and he proposed the recommendations as laid out.

Resolved that the Quarter 3 organisational performance, progress against the Integrated Delivery Plan and management of Human Resources and Risk be noted.