Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes from the meeting held on 10 May 2011 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

It was reported that no public questions had been received.

The minutes of the Executive Board and the Executive Board Sub Committee relating to the work of the Corporate Policy and Performance Board since its last meeting, were submitted for information.

RESOLVED: That the minutes be noted.

The draft minutes relating to the Corporate Services Portfolio which will be considered by the Halton Strategic Partnership Board at their next meeting were presented to the Board for information.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes be noted.

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director Policy and Resources which provided a summary of the recent marketing activities carried out on behalf of Widnes Market.

It was reported that the traders and stakeholders observations and desires over a number of months were collated by the Communications and Marketing Department, in conjunction with the Markets Manager to produce the marketing plan for 2011-12.  It was clear following this exercise that the emphasis should be on promotions rather than advertising, as a way of encouraging people to the market. 

Events to date had included an Easter promotion, Street Market art and “Widnes on Sea”.  The latter had proved to be a particularly successful event with an extra footfall of 7000 when compared to the same period last year. 

Future planned events would include “Link to My Halton Foody Fortnight”, “British Food Fortnight”, a Cancer awareness promotion and Widnes Market charity fundraising calendar. Christmas promotions would include an outdoor Christmas market and Santa’s Grotto.

It was commented that the work to promote the market would continue and the Chair invited Members to participate in the Markets working group.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director Policy and Resources which provided Members with a further opportunity for overview and scrutiny of the new Draft Halton Corporate Plan 2011-2016.

It was noted that the Corporate Plan set out the goals the Council wanted to achieve to help build a better future for Halton; it redefined priorities and explained how we would deploy our resources.   The Corporate Plan also presented the Council’s contribution to the delivery of the Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) 2011-26. 

Members confirmed their agreement with the draft Corporate Plan and that it should be referred to the Executive Board for adoption.

RESOLVED:  That the Board recommended that the Draft Corporate Plan be adopted by the Executive Board.

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director Policy and Resources which presented the performance management reports for quarter 1 of 2011-12. 

The Board were requested to consider and raise any questions or points of clarification in respect of the reports, which detailed progress against service objectives/milestones and performance targets, and described factors affecting the service for the following:

• Policy & Performance;
• Financial Services;
• Legal & Democratic Services;
• ICT & Support;
• Learning & Development;
• Property Services; and
• Catering, Stadium & Registration Services

The following was points were made by Members following discussions:

Financial Services

3.0 Emerging Issues – Audit and Operational Finance Division – Feedback was requested with regards to the status of the liability surveys that had taken place in August 2011. 

It was noted that a report in relation to insurance costs resulting from highway claims would be submitted at a future meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED:  That the quarter one Performance Management reports and comments made be noted.

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director Policy and Resources which updated Members on the progress in the review of the Council’s existing Performance Management and monitoring arrangements.

Members were reminded that due to the changes to the National Performance Frameworks: (National Indicator Set; the Local Area Agreement and the Comprehensive Area Assessments), the Council had been afforded some degree of flexibility concerning the development of future performance management arrangements.    These changes would reflect a transition away from authorities being performance managed by central government to being held account at a local level.

It was noted however that the national inspection framework for Children’s Services and Adults Social Care by OFSTED and CQC would remain in place and therefore would still need to be supported.  Similarly, performance data would continue to be submitted as prescribed in the national single data set.

Members were provided with the opportunity to consider a future preferred approach towards the performance management and monitoring arrangements, an example of which was attached for reference.  It was proposed that these would consist of three tiers as follows:

• Priority based performance reports for each of the Council’s six corporate priorities in 2012/13 for each Policy and Performance Board;
• Directorate Overview Reports on a quarterly basis, and progress against the Corporate Plan on a six monthly basis for 2012/13; and
• The continued availability of existing departmental focused performance reports for operational management purposes which would be made available to Members via the Council intranet.

These were discussed and Members gave positive feedback and agreed with the new formats.

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Policy and Performance Board note the content of the report; and recommends to the Executive Board that:

1)     The development and use of a priority based performance report for each of the Councils six corporate priorities in 2012/13, for each Policy and Performance Board be approved;

2)     The presentation of Directorate Overview Reports on a quarterly basis and progress against the Corporate Plan on a six monthly basis for 2012/13 be approved; and

3)     The availability of existing departmental focused performance reports for operational management purposes be continued and made available to Members via the Council intranet, as advertised in the Members bulletin.