Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Kim Snape.

To approve the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panels held on 11 and 20 March 2013 (enclosed)

RESOLVED –

1.    The minutes of the last meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 11 March (and continued on 20 March) 2013 be confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Chair; and

2.    That following the concern of Councillor Berry regarding the lack of publicly available information on Supporting People funding, the Chief Executive would forward her response the Council had sent to LCC asking that they consult partners like the Childrens’ Trust and the Health and Well Being Board more widely, in making decisions on funding across Lancashire.

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 interest.

Report of Chief Executive (enclosed)

The Panel considered a report of the Chief Executive monitoring the Council’s performance against the delivery of the Corporate Strategy and key performance indicators during the fourth quarter of 2012/13.

The majority of key projects were on track for delivery with the trial reopening of Market St being delayed due to changes to the scheme. Completion on this was due in October.

Corporate Strategy measures which were performing below target and therefore subject to action plans were:

·         % of customers dissatisfied with the way they were treated by the Council

·         town centre visits

·         % of 16 – 18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs)

·         growth in the business rate base

·         the number of long term empty properties in the borough.

The key service delivery measure performing below target was the processing of minor planning applications. In all cases action plans were in place to address improving performance.

Members queried the number of empty properties and the strategy to address the issue. Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member reported that recent council tax regulation changes could impact on the number of empty properties in the longer term but it was too early to tell. Some empty properties which were considered a blight on an area, had been selected for the Council to engage with owners to bring property back into use.

There was a further query on progress with the Friday Street Health Centre project and the Chief Executive reported that discussions were ongoing with the Care Trust about the financing of the scheme with the next stage being to draw up plans. The suitability of the site remained an issue but a suitable alternative was proving difficult to find.

In response to a query regarding updates on key projects which were on track for delivery, the Chief Executive reported that project and performance information would shortly be available to Members through the intranet. If Members had detailed questions as a result, then these should be brought to the meeting – but with advance notice so that the correct information could be sourced.

RESOLVED - that the report be noted and that Members of the Panel be provided with information about empty town centre properties.

Report of the Chief Executive (enclosed)

The Panel considered a report of the Chief Executive on the performance of the Chorley Partnership during the fourth quarter of 2012/13 against the delivery plan and key performance indicators.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member reported that the performance indicators for the Partnership were being reviewed. For quarter 1 in 2013/14, there would be a new approach to delivery planning which would provide greater clarity on the links and performance of sub groups as well as partner organisations.

Overall, performance of the partnership was very good with 41 of the 52 key projects/priorities being complete or on target for completion. Of the remaining 11, 5 were the responsibility of the NHS Central Lancashire which had been abolished on 1 April with responsibilities transferring to the Chorley and South Ribble Clinical Commissioning Group, Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Care Trust. Information was being sourced on these projects

Members expressed concern that despite a reduction in the rate of alcohol related hospital admissions in Chorley, the figure was still extremely high and more should be done to tackle the issues. An example of one town centre pub offered 10 drinks for £10 was referred to. Councillor Peter Wilson confirmed that more work was necessary in this area and he welcomed the support of the Panel in making that request to the LSP.

The Director of People and Places reported that the LSP had tasked the Children’s Trust with interventions to look at young people admitted to hospital with alcohol related admissions. In relation to a query about availability of information on the Children’s Trust website, the Director offered to ensure it was up to date.

RESOLVED –

1.    The report be noted.

2.    The most recent public health data on alcohol related issues be circulated to all Members of the Performance Panel.

3.    The Chair of the Panel write to the Chair of Chorley Partnership to request that more detailed work is undertaken into tackling the high rate of alcohol related hospital admissions in the Borough.

Report of the Chief Executive (enclosed)

The Chair reported that shared services was the topic of the performance focus for this meeting and invited Gary Hall and Councillor Peter Wilson to present their report which provide the financial and organisational benefits to the establishment of shared financial and assurance services with South Ribble Council.

In terms of performance in the last quarter of 2012/13, there had been an improvement on the previous year with 80% of financial service indictors and 46% of assurance indictors being green.

Since its establishment, the shared financial and assurance services had been predicted to save £290,000 but had in fact saved £550,000. Both Councils had benefitted equally from the savings made.

In some areas, services had been improved will full integration and greater efficiency/delivery. However this hadn’t been achieved in all areas and management accounting would be the focus over the next 12 months. Shared services was not the solution for all services and areas like IT and revenues and benefits had been investigated but discounted on the basis that the Council could make more savings by delivering the services alone, however this did not discount looking at these options in the future. Experience had shown that standardisation across authorities was a good basis for shared services.

In answer to questions about delivering services for other organisations, a number of models were available but there were mixed benefits, one issue being the loss of officer time within a smaller council.

RESOLVED – that the report be noted and a Member Learning Hour be delivered on the risks and benefits of future shared services.