Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Steve Holgate (Chair) and Marion Lowe.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel meeting held on 5 December 2013 be held as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations of any interests.

Report of the Chief Executive (enclosed)

The Panel had identified domestic violence detections as an area for further scrutiny and Detective Inspector Geoff Hurst attended the meeting to explain the processes that were undertaken to achieve the target and answer questions of the Members.

The new Corporate Strategy had been approved in November 2012 and identified the percentage of domestic violence detections as a key measure for success against the priority of ‘clean, safe and healthy communities’. The measure was selected in order to focus attention on this issue and ensure a coordinated effort.

A target of 70% detection rate was set, that reflected the current police target for this indicator. The indicator is measures using data by the Police and reported to the Chorley and South Ribble Community Safety Partnership. Detective Inspector Hurst explained that the police no longer use this target as a way of measuring its detection success, for a variety of differing reasons. The recording of Domestic Violence incidents has changed over time with many parameters being altered. The age limit for recording has been lowered to 16 year olds, sibling to sibling incidents and other familial incidents are now included and the implementation of a wide range of interventions and alternative disposals other than prosecution and caution, have reduced the number reaching ‘detection’ stage. With this in mind the police are now focusing more on reducing risk through interventions and managing outcomes. 

The Detective Inspector went on to explain the various initiatives and partnership working that is undertaken to reduce this risk.

The MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference), chaired by the police, meets monthly and focusses on the safety of victims of domestic abuse identified as being at high risk. The MARAC combines up to date risk information with a timely assessment of a victim's needs and links those directly to the provision of appropriate services for all those involved in a domestic abuse case: victim, children and perpetrator. Information is shared and joint decisions made on the most appropriate way to reduce or manage the identified risks.

The MARAC is made up of a core group of people, representing both the statutory and voluntary sector. The meeting involves contribution and commitment from agencies including police, probation, Children's Services, Adult's Services, Health, education, housing, substance misuse services, and specialist domestic abuse services, namely the Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs). IDVA's receive accredited training and support high risk victims of domestic abuse. Other agencies can attend on an ad hoc basis, when they have involvement in one of the cases being discussed.

Each victim referred to the MARAC will be allocated an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA). The IDVA is a trained specialist whose goal is the safety of domestic abuse victims, focusing on victims at high risk of harm. The IDVA will attempt to make contact with the referrer and the victim following receipt of a MARAC referral. Referrals can be made, and are encouraged, by any agency that identifies a victim of domestic abuse as being high risk.

Officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.OSP.52

Report of the Chief Executive (enclosed)

The Chief Executive submitted a report showing progress made against delivering the plans, key action and performance indicators in the single Organisational Improvement Plan 2013/14.

The single plan aims to focus the organisation on key priorities and maximise the value of available resources. All projects are recorded in the Myprojects system along with more detailed milestones so that progress can be monitored and managed throughout the year. Members were reminded that Myprojects was available online and that Members could monitor progress themselves.

At the end of February 35 actions had been completed. 54 actions were rated green, meaning they were progressing on schedule, 6 actions were rated amber, meaning there were some issues with delivery but overall work was not affected. No actions had been rated as red and 5 actions had not yet started.

A table showing the key actions that had been rated red amber or red with an explanation about the issue and action being taken to address them was provided for Members information.

Review of member information systems was currently rated amber due to timescales for completion. Member training was to be undertaken in April and May. The Chair queried what options were available for those members who could not take receipt of an ipad for health reasons and assurance was given that any such requests would be assessed on their own merits and alternative arrangements made accordingly.

A full list of performance indicators were provided for the Panel. The list included some measures that were reported on a quarterly basis. For those indicators, the most recent reporting period was at the end of the first quarter on 30 December 2013.

Thirty two indicators (71%) are on or above target, seven (16%) are outside the threshold and only 6 (13%) were off target.  Of the six indicators currently off target, three were corporate strategy indicators with reasons and actions provided in the third quarter corporate report considered at Executive Cabinet in February. These were:

·         % of customers dissatisfied with the service they have received from the Council

·         % of domestic violence detections

·         Number of affordable homes delivered

The reasons for current performance along with the steps being taken to achieve improvement were detailed within the report. The % of domestic violence detections had been highlighted for further scrutiny by this panel. It had been explained that they don’t use the 70% target anymore and are focusing on reducing risk through interventions and managing outcomes.

Members requested updates on the outcomes of the play and open space strategy consultation and private sector rented property database. Although the number of long term empty properties had improved, Councillor Snape queried the differing approaches of various departments when dealing with this issue. The Chief Executive explained that he was currently heading up a task group aimed at developing a consistent approach across the Council asked if something could be reported back to Members into a future edition of intheknow.

Cllr Berry asked about the indicator linked to the number of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.OSP.53