Issue - meetings

To receive and consider report 12/08 of the Senior Management Team. 

Introduction and Report Summary

The Corporate Governance Report looks at the key areas of:

Corporate Priorities

Best Value Performance Indicators

Progress against Service Prioritisation Plans

Key staffing data (sickness levels and turnover)

Progress with Business Process Improvement Reviews

Financial commentary

Risk Management

At its meeting on 19^th May 2008 the Senior Management Team (SMT) considered the fourth quarter 2007/08 Business Performance Report. This is an exception report which covers all of the aspects of corporate governance contained within this report. SMT agreed the exceptions (where performance / actions are not on target) to be reported to the Executive and agreed the comments / actions which have been included in this report. The full versions of the individual reports are available on the Council’s website. They can be accessed through the ‘about your Council - performance’ area of the website.

The contact officer for this report is Robert Woodside, Principal Performance Management Officer, telephone (01235 520202 ext 499).  Email address:  robert.woodside@whitehorsedc.gov.uk

Recommendation

That the Senior Management Team’s Corporate Governance exception report and proposals be noted. 

(Time: 2.53pm to 3.10pm)

The Executive received and considered report 12/08 of the Senior Management Team.  This review corporate governance during the fourth quarter of 2007/08, looking at the key areas of:

·        Corporate Priorities

·        Best Value Performance Indicators

·        Progress against Service Prioritisation Plans

·        Key staffing data (sickness levels and turnover)

·        Progress with Business Process Improvement Reviews

·        Financial commentary

·        Risk Management

The Senior Management Team had considered the fourth quarter 2007/08 Business Performance Report: an exception report covering all of the aspects of corporate governance.  The Senior Management Team agreed the exceptions to be reported to the Executive, where performance and actions were not on target, and agreed the comments and actions which had been included in this report. 

The Executive sought an explanation of the overspend in Legal Services.  The Head of Legal Services reported that there had been some reduction in the anticipated income in Land Charges, due partly to the downturn in the housing market.  However, attempts were being made to improve the service with the aid of the Organisational Development service.  There had also been an overspend on salaries due to the need to employ agency staff.  It was hoped that there would be a full establishment soon. 

All service managers were reminded of the importance of keeping within budget.  Controlling salary budgets was just one element of this.  Those managers that had done this were commended for their work. 

Turning to Best Value Performance Indicators, Members asked for further improvement in the payment of invoices on time (BVPI 8). 

Appendix C to the report set out progress with business process improvement reviews.  Members called for improvements and cashable savings in these areas. 

RESOLVED

that the Senior Management Team’s Corporate Governance exception report and proposals be noted.