Communities, Leisure and Arts Policy Advisory Committee

5 March 2024

 

Draft Key Performance Indicators 2024/25

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Communities Leisure and Arts Policy Advisory Committee

5 March 2024

Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee

6 March 2024

Housing, Health and the Environment Policy Advisory Committee

12 March 2024

Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee

13 March 2024

Cabinet

20 March 2024

 

 

Will this be a Key Decision?

 

No

 

Urgency

Not Applicable

Final Decision-Maker

CABINET

Lead Head of Service

Head of Insight, Communities and Governance 

Lead Officer and Report Author

Carly Benville Information and Analytics Manager

Classification

Public

 

Wards affected

All  

 

Executive Summary

 

Committee are provided with an update on performance management arrangements for 2024/25 including to recommend to Cabinet the draft key performance indicators for 2024/25.

 

 

Purpose of Report

Decision

 

 

This report asks the Committee to consider the following recommendation to the Cabinet;

1.   To agree the draft Performance Indicators at Appendix 1 and note the changes to reporting arrangements.

 

 



Draft Key Performance Indicators 2024/25

 

1.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

The four Strategic Plan objectives are:

·         Embracing Growth and Enabling Infrastructure

·         Safe, Clean and Green

·         Homes and Communities

·         A Thriving Place

Accepting the recommendations will materially improve the Council’s ability to achieve its priorities as the Key Performance Indicators and strategic actions are aligned with the Council’s overarching Strategic Plan 2019-45 and play an important role in the achievement of corporate objectives. They also cover a wide range of services and priority areas.

Anna Collier -

Head of Insight, Communities and Governance

Cross Cutting Objectives

The four cross-cutting objectives are:

·         Heritage is Respected

·         Health Inequalities are Addressed and Reduced

·         Deprivation and Social Mobility is Improved

·         Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability is respected

The report recommendation(s) supports the achievement(s) of all cross-cutting objectives as the Key Performance Indicators and strategic actions are aligned with the Council’s overarching Strategic Plan 2019-45.

Anna Collier -

Head of Insight, Communities and Governance

Risk Management

Already covered in the risk section.

 

Anna Collier -

Head of Insight, Communities and Governance

Financial

The proposals set out in the recommendation are all within already approved budgetary headings and so need no new funding for implementation. Performance indicators and targets are closely linked to the allocation of resources and determining good value for money. The financial implications of any proposed changes are also identified and taken into account in the Council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy and associated annual budget setting process. Performance issues are highlighted as part of the budget monitoring reporting process.

Section 151 Officer & Finance Team

Staffing

We will deliver the recommendations with our current staffing. Having a clear set of performance targets enables staff outcomes/objectives to be set and effective action plans to be put in place.

Anna Collier -

Head of Insight, Communities and Governance

Legal

There is no statutory duty to report regularly

on the Council’s performance. However, under

Section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999 (as amended) a best value authority has a

statutory duty to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. One

of the purposes of the Key Performance

Indicators is to facilitate the improvement of

the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of

Council services. Regular reports on Council

performance help to demonstrate best value and compliance with the statutory duty.

Team Leader (Contentious and Corporate Governance)

Information Governance

The recommendations do not impact personal information (as defined in UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018) the Council Processes.

Information Governance Officer

Equalities

The recommendations do not propose a change in service therefore will not require an equalities impact assessment.

Equalities & Communities Officer

Public Health

 

 

The performance recommendations will not

negatively impact on population health or that

of individuals.

Senior Public Health Officer

Crime and Disorder

There are no implications to Crime and Disorder.

 

Anna Collier -

Head of Insight, Communities and Governance

Procurement

There are no procurement implications.

Anna Collier -

Head of Insight, Communities and Governance Section 151 Officer

Biodiversity and Climate Change

The implications of this report on biodiversity

and climate change have been considered and

there are no direct implications on biodiversity and climate change.

Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager

 

 

2.      INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1     Performance management is a key tool to ensuring that the Council is delivering on its priorities, as set out in our strategic plan, and which indicates whether action is required to ensure that we improve our services, give value for money and good outcomes for the residents of Maidstone. 

 

2.2     Performance Management has undergone a few evolutions both nationally and locally, with a general reduction in emphasis on performance monitoring. Nationally there has been a recent increase in focus.  In July 2023, the Office of Local Government (OFLOG) launched a beta-version of a new online tool, which brings together a range of existing metrics across local government service areas, to provide authoritative and accessible data and analysis about the performance of local government and support its improvement. 

 

2.3     Not all metrics have yet been confirmed, however there are not currently any relevant indicators for this committee. The Local Authority Data Explorer can be found here: https://oflog.data.gov.uk/.

 

2.4     The government have committed to ensuring that OFLOG will develop all future metrics by July 2025, and under their current proposed future metrics, the following are relevant for this committee:

 

·         Sport, Leisure & Recreational Services (inc. Libraries)

 

Draft Key Performance Indicator Set 2024/25

 

2.5     Proposed key performance indicators for consideration for the period 2024/25 are outlined in the tables over the page. Indicators have been developed based upon:

 

·         New and potential Oflog indicators as described above,

·         Current Strategic Priorities,

·         Feedback from members over the course of the year,

·         Advice from Head of Services and key managers.  

 

2.6     Seven indicators are proposed for this committee, an decrease from the current eight. 

 

2.7     The indicators proposed to be dropped from this committee are:

 

·         Percentage change in Utility costs for public use leisure assets

·         Extra visits to the Borough for Events (HUQ)

 

2.8     The new indicator proposed for this committee is:

 

·         Footfall at the Maidstone Carriage Museum

 

Reporting

 

2.9     Reporting will change in 2024/25 to increase transparency of the Council’s performance. Dashboards of performance will be developed for each committee, which will be refreshed monthly for members.  

 

2.10  In addition to the monthly dashboard, Committee can request more detail about performance from Heads of Service or Managers at committee on any aspect of the performance to feature on the Committee agenda.

 

2.11  A formal summary of performance will be reported biannually, with the annual report providing a more in-depth analysis including trends and benchmarking data.

 

 

3.   AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     Members of the Policy Advisory Committee can choose to recommend to Cabinet the draft key performance indicator set, as it set out at appendix 1.

 

3.2     Alternatively, Members can recommend to Cabinet to remove or add any indicators suggested as they feel are relevant for the committee.

 

3.3     Members could recommend that performance is not monitored but this is not recommended. Performance management is a cornerstone of a well-performing authority and this would reduce transparency and oversight of the Council’s services and overall performance.

 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1     That Members of the Policy Advisory Committee recommend the draft indicator set at appendix 1 to Cabinet, as this has been developed based upon aligning to national data sets, strategic priorities and expert officer advice.

 

 

 

5.       RISK

5.1    The risks associated with this proposal, including the risks if the Council does not act as recommended, have been considered in line with the Council’s Risk Management Framework. The recommended approach reduces the risk to the Council. We are satisfied that the risks associated are within the Council’s risk appetite and will be managed as per the Policy.

 

6.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

6.1     Key Performance Indicators are presented to committees and cabinet throughout the year and feedback is continually collected and fed into the indicator review process at the end of the municipal year.

 

6.2     Meetings have been had with Corporate Leadership Team, Heads of Service and key Managers which has led to the draft set presented to committee today.   

 

 

7.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

7.1     The development of a performance dashboard is currently underway and will continue once the final set of indicators is approved. 

 

7.2     Once the dashboard is at a stage of user-testing, the Chair and Vice-Chair of this committee will be invited to feedback on the contents and outputs of the dashboard, which will contribute towards its final view.

 

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·         Appendix 1: Draft Key Performance Indicators 2024/25

 

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None