Comprehensive Performance AssessmentAnd Finally...the Results

Presentation by George Krawiec, Chief Executive & Town

Clerk

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council 11 December 2002

Overview

The Final Results are here… Chief Execs received own authority results

on Monday. Audit Commission held national press

conference this morning - some regional information released.

Tomorrow, national reporting in the press. All results under embargo until 12

December.

Corporate Assessment

Remember what we went through:Corporate Assessment:

Self Assessment - honest answers to 4 questions

Corporate Inspection - 2 weeks in September Received draft report - we scored well,

then... The methodology changed - so we... Argued with the Audit Commission.

Service Assessments

Service Blocks assessed through: Performance Indicators Inspection results Government rating of statutory plans

and strategies, e.g. Local Transport Plan, Housing Strategy.

Little room for argument - but we did out best!

Overall result

We are:

FAIR

How we got to “Fair”

Corporate Assessment, we scored :

3 out of 4

(4 highest) Translation: Good for “how well the

Council is run and capacity to improve”

How we got to “Fair”

Service Assessments, we scored:

2 out of 4

(4 highest) Translation: Fair for “current service

delivery overall”

How we got to “Fair”

Service assessment scores: Education 3 Social Services 2 Environment - transport, planning, waste 2 Housing 2 Benefits 3 Resources - finance, asset & people 3

management Libraries and leisure3

What is “Fair”

“Fair” is in the middle of the categories: poor, weak, fair, good, excellent

Approximately:15% of Councils are excellent; 35% are good; 25% are fair;15% are weak; and 10% are poor.

What is “Fair”?

Audit Commission guidance says: “fair councils provide reasonable services but

need to deliver significant improvements”

“current performance is stronger than their ability to make further improvements” this is not true for Southend’s judgements,

it is the other way round, so we are more likely to improve.

Not Just “Fair”

Next time we aim to be “good”.This time we missed it by 1 point.

Minor things made the difference like: including or not including an inspection

report (libraries and leisure) the rating of a single strategy (housing) bottom quartile performance in a service

sub-block rather than the next quartile up (environment)

What the Audit Commission said about us to the press...

We have addressed significant problems in education and social care and improved community safety

financial management is good… BUTservices are of mixed quality…we need to do more to show community

leadership, ensure local people know our role & improve performance management

What they also said about us…

The positives: Southend has been successful in making the

transition (to unitary status)… Member and officer structures make sure

focus on key issues is not lost… Portfolios match well to corporate objectives Appropriate speed in decision making… Works extensively in partnership… Ambitions are high for Southend…

What they also said about us…

More positives Record of achievement since 1998… Leadership from the chief executive is

strong and significant… Staff have a good understanding of aims… Track record of maintaining focus… Strong and prudent financial management Typically positive response to corporate

inspection…

What they also said about us…Now the hard stuff - challenges:

Achievements not across the board - housing & planning needs improving

Customer care, performance management, risk management needs development

People development and some working conventions have been neglected

Equalities and diversity need addressing Need for enhanced training for members Need to become a learning organisation

So what’s next?Improvement Planning

The new Corporate Plan Freedoms and Flexibilities for “fair”, include

Lighter touch targeted inspection and auditreduction in revenue ring-fencingat least 60% of capital resources through the

single pot in 2003/04more discretion over use of income from some

civil penalties new trading powers in draft Local Govt. Bill

What did we learn?

It was intensive, but worthwhile: Helped to clarify priorities and areas for

improvement Honest self-assessment paid off Preparation for the inspection was key Professional inspection team - developed

good relationship with the Council Learn from lessons for improvement

planning

Thanks for attending

Any questions?