Agenda item

Chief Executive to provide an update on the West Sussex Reset Plan.  The Committee is to focus on the expectations and principles for how scrutiny of the corporate plan outcomes should work.

The Committee is asked to consider the draft plan attached as Appendix A and focus on the following areas for discussion:

·       What does good monitoring of the Reset Plan look like?

·       Are there any principles or expectations which should guide scrutiny of the outcomes of the Reset Plan?

·       What support do you as scrutiny members need to assist you in scrutinising the outcomes of the Reset Plan?

93.1  The Committee considered the West Sussex Reset plan report from the Chief Executive (copy appended to the signed minutes).

93.2   The Leader introduced the report and highlighted that the challenges presented by Covid will continue to be seen in the coming year.  It is appropriate to reset the council’s priorities post-Covid and include stakeholders in developing this.  Appropriate indicators will be developed to measure the council’s performance against the priorities and the Committee’s feedback is welcome.

93.3  The Chief Executive confirmed that engagement is underway and the next phase is delivery planning.  The Committee’s advice on the priorities is welcome and the Committee’s feedback on the draft key performance indicators (KPIs) will be sought at a future meeting.

93.4  The Committee made comments including those that follow.  It:

·       Highlighted the disconnect between the Reset Plan and the council’s budget proposals for 2021/22, and achieving the council’s climate change aims.  The Chief Executive commented that the Reset Plan enables Members to make choices in the budget process.

·       Commented that it is a good high-level document.  More substance is needed in order to consider how to monitor performance.

·       Commented that visual representations of trends would be helpful.

·       Commented that the KPIs should be SMART [specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely] as well as measuring performance in a holistic way.  Operational KPIs are needed as well as those to ensure adherence to council policies and should also be related to financial management.

·       Suggested that the KPIs should be flexible to the council’s need and that some measures could benefit from a formula approach, i.e. by a percentage.

·       Suggested that individual scrutiny committees should consider the more detailed plans and this Committee look at the high-level overview.

·       Commented that the principles of the Fire & Rescue Service Performance and Assurance Framework be considered to ensure effective progress on the Reset Plan.

·       Queried how resilient the Reset Plan is to future events.

·       Highlighted that the timeliness, accuracy and reliability of performance data are key to the Plan’s success. 

·       Requested that the proposed KPIs be shared with the committees at the earliest opportunity.

·       Agreed that an informal meeting of scrutiny chairmen and minority leaders be arranged to ensure the measures are appropriate for each committee, are SMART, holistic and integrated, and are consistent across the committees.

93.5  Resolved – That the Committee:

1)   Recommends the key performance indicators (KPIs) be considered by the appropriate scrutiny committee for them to identify and take ownership of their priorities for scrutiny;

2)   Recommend the KPIs should be SMART, include value for money, link with financial management, and also provide benchmarking information;

3)   Recommend that a co-ordinated approach to performance management is needed to link together both our corporate plan and financial management;

4)   Recognise that there is a need to understand the Council practice and performance measures and whether target outcomes are being met;

5)   Recognise it is important to ensure the right things are measured and that information on progress is being shared with scrutiny members in a timely manner; and that

6)   Following consideration of the proposed KPIs at individual scrutiny committee meetings in January, an informal meeting of scrutiny committee chairmen and minority leaders be arranged.