Agenda item

To consider the report.

Following consideration of the officer report and discussion, the Executive:

Endorsed the Q3 2023/2024 Performance Management Report (appendix A) for Somerset Council.

The Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Resources and Performance, Cllr Liz Leyshon, introduced the report and handed over to the Service Director for Strategy & Performance, Sara Cretney, who presented the report which showed a positive picture with an increase in the number of green indicators from 19 to 28 and a decrease of red indicators from 17 to 5. She explained that whilst this was an interim reporting process, as they were bringing together services across Somerset Council, they were also working on a much more integrated performance risk and budget reporting corporate performance framework

The Leader of Council opened up meeting for discussion and the following points were made: there would likely to be some changes to performance levels due to the recently agreed budget decisions and the Council’s transformation process; that impacts would be tracked alongside the monitoring of staff welfare; that there was the potential for reductions, adaptations or cessation of some services and these would be clearly indicated to members to allow informed decisions to be made; that as a part of the transformation process consideration would be given to how technology could be used and how systems were set up; in response to concerns over complaints and the number of telephone calls answered from end to end it was explained that whilst complaints fell under Community Services for reporting, they actually related to all of the Council’s services and that as such this would be further considered and reported back to the Executive; that the results of the peer review taking place this week should be received within a month and would be made a public document; a question was raised about the rise in the number of overdue Care Act assessments and their impact on the budget and what action was being taken with them; and that whilst not directly related to performance, concerns were raised over care home closures and shortages of care staff.

Following consideration of the officer report and discussion, the Executive:

Endorsed the Q3 2023/2024 Performance Management Report (appendix A) for Somerset Council.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED: As set out in the attached report

REASON FOR DECISION: As set out in the attached report