Response A1346360

Response to request for information

Reference

A1346360

Response date

2 February 2022

Request

Please may you provide me with information on how your authority reports on its performance. Please provide written responses below each of the questions listed below (definitions have also been included below the questions):

1. How do you report performance to residents?
2. Do you have a Performance Management Handbook*?
3. What budget do you have allocated towards your performance management* initiatives per annum?
4. How many hours are spent on performance management* reporting each month?
5. Which applications or systems do you use to manage Performance Management*?
6. Do you report departmental performance separately or in a different way?
7. Do you benchmark or baseline your authority’s performance with other similar authorities?
8. Can you evidence improvements to your services based on historical performance management* reporting?

Definitions:

Performance management*: Performance Management is about the practical ways that a council can improve what it does and, more importantly, what it delivers, in terms of good quality services that meet the needs of local people. Performance management is acting in response to actual performance to make outcomes for users and the public better than they would otherwise be.

Performance Management Handbook*: A Performance Management Handbook sets out what a council does to; plan activity, monitor, report and improve performance, in relation to the services they deliver, and linked to the aims and objectives of the corporate plan.

Response

1. How do you report performance to residents?

   • Performance is reported quarterly to Overview Scrutiny Group with reports available on the Council’s website.

2. Do you have a Performance Management Handbook*?
   • No
3. What budget do you have allocated towards your performance management* initiatives per annum?
   • None
4. How many hours are spent on performance management* reporting each month?
   • 12-15 hours
5. Which applications or systems do you use to manage Performance Management*?
   • Pentana
6. Do you report departmental performance separately or in a different way?

   • Yes, Service Managers hold a bi-monthly performance clinic where each reports progress and concerns of:

     • Performance indicators
     • Tasks (corporate and service)
     • Risks
     • Staffing
     • Finance
     • Sickness
     • Staff vacancies
     • Responses to consultations
7. Do you benchmark or baseline your authority’s performance with other similar authorities?

   • Benchmarking is done through LG Inform and ad hoc within near neighbour groups

8. Can you evidence improvements to your services based on historical performance management* reporting?

   • Not at the present time. The impact of the pandemic has made identification of improvements problematic.