Issue - meetings

The Council is asked to consider and approve the West Sussex County Council Reset Plan 2021/22 to 2024/25, in the light of a report by the Leader.

79.1     The Council considered the West Sussex County Council Reset Plan 2021/22 to 2024/25, in the light of a report by the Leader (pages 37 to 68).

79.2     Resolved –

That the WSCC Reset Plan (2021/22 to 2024/25), as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

The Cabinet is asked to approve the Reset Plan and supporting documents for further consideration by the County Council at its meeting in February 2021.

Scrutiny Committee Chairman and each of the main Minority Group Leaders will be invited to speak for up to three minutes on the West Sussex Reset Plan.

The Cabinet will then discuss the report and proposals prior to taking any decision.

Following consideration of the report, Cabinet resolved to:

Approve the Reset Plan and supporting documents for further consideration by the County Council at its February 2021 meeting, subject to amendments to KPI 22 and KPI 45 as follows:

KPI 22 – Equivalent tonnes (te) of CO2 emissions from WSCC activities (CC)

Baseline – changed from 13,492 to 33,912CO2te

2021/22 – changed from 13,000 to 30,521CO2te

2022/23 - changed from 12,000 to 29,910CO2te

2023/24 – changed from 11,000 to 28,116CO2te

2024/25 – changed from 10,000 to 25,867CO2te

KPI 45 – Changed to – All member training and development needs identified and training completed within 12 months of 2021 election (future year targets and measures to be set by the Member Development Group)

Baseline – no change

2021/22 – changed from within six months of the 2021 elections to 100%

2022/23 – changed from N/A to To be confirmed (TBC)

2023/24 – changed from N/A to TBC

2024/25 – changed from N/A to TBC.

The call-in deadline is 2 February 2021.

62.1   Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive, Becky Shaw. The report was introduced by the Leader who advised it was the latest iteration of the new corporate plan for WSCC. The plan now included detailed delivery outcomes and performance indicators to enable to focus and resources on the priorities.

62.2   Chairmen of the Health and Adults Social Care, Environment and Communities, Performance and Finance and Fire and Rescue Service Scrutiny Committees noted their Committee’s recent deliberations of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the plan and their overall satisfaction and support of them relative to their areas of business.

62.3   Cllr Dr James Walsh, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group felt there was a disconnect in the Reset plan from its aspirations and the Revenue Budget proposals. Cllr Michael Jones, Leader of the Labour Group felt that KPIs in the past had not recognised challenges in the Children’s or Fire and Rescue Services and therefore had some reservations.

62.4   Becky Shaw, Chief Executive explained the plan was intended as a starting place; that detailed action plans would develop and evolve over time for each department. These business plans would underpin the KPIs and encourage new ones. She advised the plan would return to Cabinet on a quarterly basis, and annually to County Council alongside the Revenue Budget. Cabinet Members commented on the KPIs and respective relevance to the work of their portfolios, particularly in the areas of economy, adults and health and children’s social care. The Leader advised although WSCC had faced a number of challenges, work in all areas had been significant with good achievements recognised from external partners. Whilst the authority remained on a journey, which was overlaid with the pandemic, impact would be minimised by continuing to work with partners, resetting priorities and delivering good outcomes for residents.

62.5   Resolved – that Cabinet approves the Reset Plan and supporting documents for further consideration by the County Council at its February 2021 meeting, subject to amendments to KPI 22 and KPI 45 as follows:

KPI 22 – Equivalent tonnes (te) of CO2 emissions from WSCC activities (CC)

Baseline – changed from 13,492 to 33,912CO2te

2021/22 – changed from 13,000 to 30,521CO2te

2022/23 - changed from 12,000 to 29,910CO2te

2023/24 – changed from 11,000 to 28,116CO2te

2024/25 – changed from 10,000 to 25,867CO2te

KPI 45 – Changed to – All member training and development needs identified and training completed within 12 months of 2021 election (future year targets and measures to be set by the Member Development Group)

Baseline – no change

2021/22 – changed from within six months of the 2021 elections to 100%

2022/23 – changed from N/A to To be confirmed (TBC)

2023/24 – changed from N/A to TBC

2024/25 – changed from N/A to TBC

The attached report and Appendix A are presented by the Leader and Chief Executive.  Appendix B, the Reset Plan and all Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), will be sent to follow. 

The latest version of the West Sussex Reset Plan was presented to County Council in December 2020 for approval, and takes account of the recommendations of this Committee.  Scrutiny committees have previewed the priorities and outcomes specific to their area of council business and considered the proposals for KPIs to measure performance and achievement of the plans aims.  These measures will be included in the final plan to be presented alongside the budget for approval at County Council in February 2021.

The Committee is asked to consider the draft Reset Plan attached as Appendix B and make any comments to the Cabinet and Chief Executive.

102.1  The Committee considered the West Sussex Reset Plan report by the Chief Executive (copy appended to the signed minutes).

102.2  The Leader introduced the Plan which outlines what the council aims to achieve for its residents in the period 2021/22 to 2025.  The Plan reflects the priorities of residents and has been developed collaboratively with staff, Members, council partners and stakeholders.  Its focus is post-Covid and it has been developed alongside the 2021/22 Budget presented to the Committee.  The Plan will report on a quarterly basis and be updated annually. 

102.3  The Chief Executive introduced the report and noted the committee’s feedback on the Plan’s key performance indicators (KPIs) at its previous meeting has been listened to.  The Plan is a live document, ambitious but realistic, and it will be flexible to change as needed.

102.4  The chairmen of the service scrutiny committees were asked to summarise the discussion and outcome of the debate at their January meetings to review the Reset Plan and key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to them, as follows:

·       Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Committee (CYPSSC) chairman confirmed the committee agreed the KPIs are appropriate and challenging but base data was needed to provide a context in relation to the targets included.  It was suggested that adding a measure on the Early Help work be considered.

·       Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee (HASC) chairman confirmed the committee had requested more challenging  KPI targets to ensure good monitoring of the services.  It was suggested KPIs for healthy weight at mid-life, healthy life expectancy of BAME residents and a KPI in relation to Mental Health should be added.

·       Environment and Communities Scrutiny Committee (ECSC) chairman confirmed most of that committee’s suggestions had been included within the Plan and the KPIs provide a good framework. 

·       Fire & Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee (F&RSSC) chairman confirmed committee were satisfied with the KPIs and they are consistent with the Service Improvement Plan.

102.5  The Committee made comments in relation to the Reset Plan, including those that follow. It:

·       Welcomed the Reset Plan and KPIs and supported the continued development and review of the Plan and indicators over time.

·       Commented that the Committee would have liked more involvement on the development of the Reset Plan and performance indicators, and that a full and detailed review has not been possible due to the limited time frame.  Similarly the Committee has not been involved in the development of the Quarterly Performance Monitor.  It was recognised that the documents will continue to develop over time, and it was requested that scrutiny members are involved in any further review of performance monitoring or reporting to help ensure effective scrutiny.

·       Looks forward to reviewing the Reboot Plan at the appropriate time with details of how the performance aims will be achieved.

102.6  The Committee made comments in relation to the proposed KPIs, including those that follow:

·       Regarding KPI no. 18 (A and B road maintenance) that the target percentage should be reviewed as it is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 102