Appendix A
Corporate Services
Performance Report as at 31 December 2008
Status of Priorities in Strategic Service Statement
Priority RAG Comments
a Effectively manage new legislation on Planning, Port G New legislation now implemented. Processes bedded in.
Health, Housing, Liquor Licensing, Marches & Parades members familiar with new procedure. and Gambling.
b Support the Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company A (1) Irvine Bay URC and develop and implement a new regeneration The Single Outcome Agreement calls for continued
programme using the “Fairer Scotland Fund”. sustained support for URC. In 2008/09 there is ?6.7m
available in funding from all sources. Targets affected by the
downturn in financial markets. URC has adjusted
programmes to give priority to projects least affected and to
prepare area for market recovery. Town Plan Presentations
made to Area Committees in October 2008. Progress report
made to CPP Board on 11 December 2008
G (2) Fairer Scotland Fund
Most initiatives delivering on or close to target. The first
Fairer North Ayrshire (FNA) Lead Officers Meeting, held in
December 2008, was well attended and well received. A
meeting was held with the Scottish Government in
November 2008, with positive feedback being received
about the delivery of the Fairer Scotland Fund within North
Ayrshire. Development work has begun on a new Fairer
North Ayrshire initiative focusing on early years/ early
intervention, to run from April 2009. This will be funded in
part by carry forward budget from 2008/9.
c Direct and deliver the Business Gateway and implement G New business support (start-ups, high growth, skills Scottish Enterprise’s local regeneration projects. development and training) now being implemented and
supported by EU funding. Programmes delivering
satisfactory against targets. Business gateway support now
fully integrated with NAC core business support. Baseline
business new starts set at April 2008 and will meet first year
target. Further introduction of BG Highlands and Islands in
April 2009 will increase Council support across the whole of
the Council area.
d Drive the implementation of the Customer Service G (1) Customer Service Action Plan strategy. An action plan will be presented to the Corporate
Management Team in March. The action plan is based on
developing telephone, face-to-face and on-line contact;
improved performance management; skills development and
knowledge sharing.
G (2) Access Point Pilot Project
The Pilot in Kilwinning Library has been completed. The
draft findings report has been reviewed by all parties. The
final version of the report has been distributed for sign-off.
A (3) Brooksby Medical and Resource Centre
The build of the new Brooksby Medical and Resource
Centre in Largs is completed and renovation of Brooksby
House will be completed in March 2009. Council staff
should be able to move in early April.
A (4) National Customer First Programme
Compatibility issues with Library systems have led to a delay
in the National Entitlement Card ('smartcard') roll-out to
Libraries.
e Plan and prepare for European Parliamentary elections G Project planning up to date. Chief Executive and General
and possibly UK Parliamentary elections. Manager attended briefing event held by Regional Returning
Officer for Scotland / Electoral Commission on 18 November
2008.
f Put in place business continuity plans across all A All services have submitted draft business continuity plans.
services. These will now be the subject of a critical review by our
external consultants, with subsequent high level testing of
plans.
g Further develop performance monitoring to support G Format of Service Performance Reports reviewed and
continuous improvement of services across the Council. revised in response to comments from Scrutiny Committee.
Earlier proposals for development of a "North Ayrshire
Performs" web-based performance reporting system were
not cost viable and a reduced functionality alternative is
being developed in-house as a stop-gap. This system will be
live by 31 March 2009. The Council's Corporate
Performance Management Group agreed in principle to
procurement of a proprietary performance management
system with much greater functionality. This is expected to
go live in the second half of 2009.
h Drive the implementation, monitoring and updating of G The first North Ayrshire Single Outcome Agreement (SOA),
the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA), Council Plan covering 2008/9, was between North Ayrshire Council (NAC) and Community Plan, with a particular focus on their and the Scottish Government. From April 2009, this will be
impacts on poverty and deprivation. replaced by a Single Outcome Agreement between North
Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) and the
Scottish Government (CPP SOA). An initial consultation on
the Consultation Draft SOA was held between 31 October
and 25 November, including all CPP groups, other
partnerships and Elected Members. the CPP Board
subsequently approved a Formal Consultation Draft SOA at
its meeting on 11 December 2008. A period of formal
consultation is now underway with the statutory CPP
partners, who are represented on the CPP Board, including
North Ayrshire Council. The Board will meet in mid-February
2009 to agree any final changes, before submission to the
Scottish Government by 28 February 2009. The SOA will be
jointly agreed by the end of May 2009. The CPP SOA will
update and replace the current Community Plan and the
North Ayrshire Council Plan. An integrated SOA Action Plan
is being developed.
i Work towards the development of a fully fledged G See h above Community Planning Partnership Single Outcome
Agreement beyond 2009.
j Further develop the Council’s performance management G PSIF Assessments were undertaken in 2008 by Protective
capacity and culture by implementing the Public Service Services, IT & Customer Services and Financial Services.
Improvement Framework (PSIF) method of self-Most assessments have been completed with Assessment
assessment across all services. Teams now developing improvement plans. Assessments
proposed for 2009 include Chief Executive’s Services
(February), Best Value Assessment of all Services (April –
June), Legal Services (April), Infrastructure and Design
Services (April), Housing Services (Provisionally March),
Social Services (Provisionally April).
k Prepare for the Audit of Best Value and Community G See j above. Planning in 2009/10.
l Review the Council’s governance and political G At its meeting on 12 November 2008, the Council approved
management arrangements by June 2008. revised corporate governance arrangements in relation to
the Standing Orders relating to Meetings and Proceedings of
the Council and Committees and the Scheme of
Administration. This followed earlier reports to the Council
on 25 June and 10 September, and a members’ seminar on
18 August.
The decision to increase the frequency of Scrutiny
Committee meetings from 3-weekly to fortnightly was
implemented.
Completed a six-month governance review of the
Community Planning Partnership, including the approval of
CPP Terms of Reference. This includes a revised structure
for the CPP, and the inclusion of Elected Members on the
new Strategic Partnerships.
m Introduce efficiency and cost reduction programmes G The gathering of data is now complete and reports have
throughout the Council and to maximise income through been discussed in detail with Corporate Directors and the
improved collection performance. Chief Executive. Four distinct work areas have been
identified to be taken forward, HR, Procurement, Agile
Working and Administration. An approach to taking each of
these areas forward will involve Services and the Business
Change Team and will be discussed by the Corporate
Management Team in January 2009.
Processes are continually improved to ensure income is G maximised. The use and performance of sheriff officer
contracts is continually reviewed to ensure debt is recovered
where possible. While collection figures to end December
2008 compare favourably to the same position last year, we
must acknowledge the worsening economic situation and
the effect this may have on future collection levels.
n Deliver outcomes associated with the Efficient A Efficiencies outlined as part of the 2008/09 budget setting
Government Plan by identifying opportunities for process are being implemented by services. The annual
delivering services in a more effective / efficient way efficiency statement for 2008/09 will identify cashable and
through joint working with other public sector agencies non-cashable efficiencies accordingly. (e.g. procurement).
Changes in culture to embed efficiency across the Council
are taking time to take effect.
o Drive the implementation of a human resource strategy G A programme has been developed in partnership with that ensures the Council has the workforce skills it Glasgow Caledonian University. Delegates have been
requires. nominated and briefed with first 2 cohorts commencing
January and February 2009.
Work is underway in the Services to progress their
succession plans.
Work continuing to ensure 100% completion of PDRs by 31
March 2009.