Performance Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 17 December 2024
Back to Audit and Scrutiny Committee — 17 December 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL AUDIT AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE CUSTOMER SUPPORT SERVICES 17 DECEMBER 2024 PERFORMANCE UPDATE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report presents to Audit and Scrutiny Committee an update on progress on the review of the Council’s Performance Improvement framework (PIF) that is being undertaken as part of the Performance Excellence Project. As outlined in the previous update, the overall deliverable from the project will be an updated PIF which includes a simplified, compliant and proportionate approach to performance and improvement activities. The report highlights work completed to date and sets out the remaining planned activities in phase two of the project. It is recommended that members consider and note the progress of the Performance Excellence Project to date and the remaining activities in progress in phase two of the project.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL AUDIT AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE CUSTOMER SUPPORT SERVICES 17 DECEMBER 2024 PERFORMANCE UPDATE 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The Performance Excellence Project (PEP) has been in place since May 2020 with the aim of reviewing the Council’s approach to performance and improvement activities and simplifying them where possible. The report sets out the progress of the current phase of the project (phase 2). 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Members are recommended to consider and note the progress to date of the Performance Excellence Project and remaining activities for phase 2. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 Members will recall that the project commenced in May 2020 with a mandate to review the performance management approach within the Council and implement a simplified, proportionate and compliant approach which meets the needs of a transitioning council. Performance reporting was subsequently included following a Best Value audit. 4.2 Progress against the 5 workstreams in phase 2 of the project is outlined below. 4.3 Workstream One: Planning This work stream focusses on the design and development of plans that support delivery of the Council’s strategic outcomes. A new corporate plan and business plan were put in place and the project has been focussing on the following activities: • Review of corporate strategies and mapping of strategic outcomes – work has been undertaken to rationalise the number of strategies and create a framework. Chief Officers group (COG) are to be consulted on the new approach and thereafter a proposal will be finalised for approval.
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• Development of a team plan template to manage service standards aligned with strategic objectives – a work planner approach successfully piloted by HROD and presented to Senior Leadership Forum for views. A number of teams have volunteered to be part of a wider pilot of this approach. • Development of an updated Corporate Improvement Plan – in progress, awaiting detail of the Council’s new vision which is currently being developed with assistance from Oracle. • Additionally, as a result of the change in Administration and the setting of new priorities a revised Corporate Plan and Business Plan are in development. 4.4 Work stream Two: Review and Evaluation This work stream is focused on the design and development of methods to review and evaluate performance at all levels. The aim of this work is to replace the scorecards that were previously in pyramid with a new approach that reduces manual input by collecting data at source wherever possible. This work takes a themes AND teams approach, seeking to use the data platform to allow presentation of performance data in various formats for a variety of purposes and audiences. Whilst this workstream is largely dependent on outcomes from workstream 1 being in place, work is ongoing to develop a series of performance reporting dashboards. 4.5 Work stream Three: Reflection This work stream is focussed on the learning that informs our plans for change and improvement. Other pieces of work are going on across the Council, such as the review of our approach to Consultation and Engagement and our recently launched Service Design toolkit which embeds the principles of Scottish Approach to Service design, which will inform this project. Specifically, within the scope of this work stream are: - • Self-assessment activities – the piloted approach which took place across team and thematic service areas has been approved and is now available for use. • Annual Performance Review – a review of how we collect and reflect on • annual performance at individual, team and organisational level has been undertaken and a new approach implemented which simplifies the process for services and will support timely reporting on activities. • Benchmarking – a review of our approach to the use of benchmarking • including Local Government Benchmarking Framework within our • Performance and Improvement Framework is scheduled for early 2025. • Lessons learned – development of an approach that allows lessons learned to be shared widely across teams will be implemented prior to conclusion of the project.
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4.6 Work Stream 4: SPI Compliance/Public Performance Reporting This work stream is focussed on how we tell people about our performance in a way that is proportionate and meets the requirements set out in the Accounts commissions’ Statutory Performance Direction. The objective is for timely and meaningful public performance reporting and scrutiny. The directive has been reviewed and the new directive is due to be published in December 2024. A response to the draft was submitted and we do not foresee any difficulties in meeting the requirements of the final version if it is reflective of the draft. This workstream is dependent on development of resources as detailed in workstream 2. 4.7 Work Stream 5: Updated Performance and Improvement Framework The final deliverable of the project will be an updated Performance and Improvement Framework which reflects the work carried out in each of the work streams above. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 In conclusion, progress in regard to phase 2 of the Performance Excellence Project is outlined in this report as are details of the activities remaining. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy This project will result in an update to the Council’s Performance and Improvement Framework (PIF) 6.2 Financial None 6.3 Legal The Council has statutory duty to ensure Best Value and to comply with the Accounts Commission’s SPI directive 6.4 HR None 6.5 Fairer None as part of this report - any Equalities and Socio Scotland Duty Economic Impact assessments required will be completed as part of the project 6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics – None 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – None 6.5.3 Islands – None 6.6 Climate Change None
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6.7 Risk The Council fails to have performance and improvement arrangements in place that satisfy the needs of a transforming council. 6.8 Customer Service Delivering Best Value through our Performance and Improvement Framework ensures that our customers get value for money in the services provided to them. 6.9 The Rights of the None of the activities in this project directly impact on Child (UNCRC) children or young people although the public aspects will be fully accessible to all demographic groups Kirsty Flanagan Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services Councillor Mark Irvine, Policy Lead for Community Planning and Corporate Services 19 November 2024 For further information contact: Jane Fowler, Head of Customer Support Services, 01546 604466 jane.fowler@argyll-bute.gov.uk Jennifer Coyle, Senior HR Business Partner, 01546 604010 jennifer.coyle@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES N/A