Issue - meetings
Best Value Improvement Plan 2017-18 April-June 17 Update
Meeting: 11/09/2017 - Tower Hamlets Best Value Improvement Board (Item 4)
4 Best Value Improvement Plan 2017-18 April-June 17 Update PDF 107 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Board heard from the Acting Service Manager, Strategy, Policy & Performance that:
- The progress update appendix 1 would be appended to the submission to be made to the Secretary of State in September 2017 together with comments from the Board.
· The update covered the five areas (communications, property, elections, organisational culture and grants) stipulated in the Directions of the Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities issued on 28 March 2017.
· 80% of the milestones in the action plan had been completed or were on target for completion.
· 14 % of these milestones were overdue or delayed. Each of these was monitored via a linked improvement plan.
- Appendix 1 outlined key achievements against each of the areas specified in the directions while appendix 2 indicated the status and levels of completion against each of the milestones of the action plan.
The following headlines were reported:
Communications -- a new communication strategy was launched in the quarter and related milestones were outlined at appendix 2. The communication plan had been widely publicised to enable corporate messages and priorities to be made known throughout the organisation.
Grants -- work was being undertaken to develop a new grants policy, commissioning framework and a voluntary sector compact. The actions of the original action plan related to grants awarded to the voluntary sector and community groups had been completed.
Property -- the first Community Hub was shortly to open and work underway on the development of other such hubs. An audit of organisation occupying Council buildings had also been completed.
Organisational Development - recruitment to senior posts was continuing. Revised core organisational values had been agreed and it was intended that these are embedded in the organisation. There had been a strategic partnership meeting and a programme for this body has been prepared. The ‘clear up’ project (instigated with the Commissioners to investigate historic members’ code of conduct complaints) had concluded and reported to Council.
Elections - the board would receive a spotlight presentation at the meeting reporting in depth on progress against the action plan.
The Board discussed the progress reported and highlighted the following:
· Communications - concerning work that remained to be done to improve performance and promulgate council information in the community, the Board was informed that, previously, communications had often been delivered using old-fashioned styles and methods. This had been addressed by the creation of a better skilled team and better resourcing. Outputs from these actions were now beginning to be evidenced. A systematic approach to communications would be taken to achieve continuous improvement. To ensure that there was resilience; expertise and support have been resourced for members.
· Members’ code of conduct and member to member behaviours – to establish a framework, an interim training package (to March 2018) was being established using a number of different methods of delivery, including providing training to members in their political groups and information sheets (e.g declarations of pecuniary interests) It was acknowledged that the challenge was to ensure that ... view the full minutes text for item 4