Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report presenting a review of Council performance as at September 2020. 

The presentation of performance commenced with the provision of an ‘Oldham Profile in Numbers’ comprising basic data in respect of population, housing, education, crime, income and benefits, household information, health, and community in the Borough.  Performance against each of the three corporate objectives of an inclusive economy, thriving communities and co-operative services was then reported, it being noted that 23 measures had achieved their target, two were within tolerance, and six were currently outside tolerance.  The performance measures were considered in more detail within Appendices 1 and 2 to the submitted report.

The above performance report meant that 74% of measures were now on target and 79% of actions completed.  Action Plans for each performance measure and the risks associated with those actions were considered at Appendices 3 and 4 respectively to the submitted report.  It was noted that a number of measures were currently suspended due to the impact on reporting as a result of Covid, and these measures were listed within the submitted report.  There were no proposed changes to performance measures or actions contained within this performance report.  The report also provided performance data related to the HR function and Council finances.

The Committee was advised that, following feedback from this Committee, the suspended performance measures had been reviewed and 13 were being re-introduced.  These measures were to be included in the Quarter 3/December 2020 performance report that would be available at the next meeting of the Committee.  The Committee was further advised with regard to matters arising that would be included in the Quarter 3 report.

Members noted improved performance on Council Tax processing times and queried whether this would be maintained.  The Director of Finance noted the measure related to Council Tax reduction claims performance and advised that it was expected this would be managed as effectively as the peak of pandemic passed.  Members further noted the decline in reported sickness absence considering this a credit to the workforce in a year that had been most challenging.  A ‘red’ rating for highways was noted and comment made that the Committee had recently received a positive report on highways.  The point was acknowledged, but distinction was drawn between the measure and the service generally, between the primary and secondary road networks etc.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Committee received a report presenting a review of Council performance as at September 2019. 

The presentation of performance commenced with the provision of an ‘Oldham Profile in Numbers’ comprising basic data in respect of population, housing, education, crime, income and benefits, household information, health, and community in the Borough.  Performance against each of the three corporate objectives of an inclusive economy, thriving communities and co-operative services was then reported, it being noted that 28 measures had achieved their target, nine were within tolerance, and 15 were currently outside tolerance.  The performance measures were considered in more detail within Appendices 1 and 2 to the submitted report.

The above performance report meant that the percentage of measures meeting their target at September 2019 had increased to 52%, up from 37% in April 2019.  Action Plans for each performance measure and the risks associated with those actions were considered at Appendices 3 and 4 respectively to the submitted report.  The presentation of performance concluded with a number of potential changes to performance measures and actions within the Corporate Performance Report which were presented at Appendix 5 to the submitted report.

The Committee was advised that, since preparation of the submitted report, the percentage of measures meeting their target had risen to 53% at Quarter 3.  In response to a query suggesting that the Performance Measure Trend presented in the report appeared to show a decline, the Committee was advised that a number of measures were geared to deliver in Quarter 4 and a better view of performance could be gained from the report on that Quarter.  Further to comments by Members as to the upward trend on sickness absence, it was noted that increases in sickness absence appeared to be a general trend and that the Council’s performance remained better than both national and Greater Manchester averages.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.