Agenda item
The Council's Strategic Plan and Corporate Revenue Budget Monitoring report 2008-09 Performance to 30th September 2008 (CAB 080/089)
Decision:
Resolved:
1. That the progress against Strategic Plan activities and milestones, as set out in Section 3 and Appendix 1 of the report (CAB 080/089], be noted;
2. That performance against targets for Strategic Indicators, as set out in Section 4.3 and Appendix 2 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted;
3. That performance against targets for Priority Indicators, as set out in Section 4.10 and Appendix 3 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted;
4. That the projected outturn for Directorate service budgets and for the total General Fund net expenditure budget for 2008/2009 set out in section 5.2 and Appendices 5A-G of the report (CAB 080/089) be noted;
5. That the projected outturn for Directorate Trading Accounts for 2008/2009 as detailed in Section 6.2 and Appendix 6 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted;
6. That the virements over £250,000, as referred to in paragraph 7.1 and detailed in Appendix 7 of the report (CAB 080/089), be approved;
7. That the budget target adjustments, as detailed in Section 8 and Appendix 8 of the report (CAB 080/089), be agreed;
8. That performance against Service Improvement Growth targets as set out in Section 9.1 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted;
9. That the projected spend against Area Based Grant (ABG), as detailed in section 10.1 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted; and
10. That the 2008/09 performance against savings targets, as detailed in section 11 and Appendix 9 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted.
Action by:
ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE (L. Ali)
Interim Service Head Strategy and Performance, Chief Executive’s (J. Underwood)
Performance Manager, Strategy and Performance, Chief Executive’s (L Sutton)
CORPORATE DIRECTOR RESOURCES (C. NAYLOR)
Service Head Corporate Finance, Resources (A. Finch)
Financial Planning and Systems Manager, Corporate Finance, Resources(M. McGrath)
Minutes:
Mr Naylor, Corporate Director Resources and Mr Ali, Assistant Chief Executive, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report summarised the salient points contained therein, highlighting in particular:-
That the overall forecast was that the Authority would underspend by £1.9 million by the end of the financial year 2008/09, a position similar to that reported at the last Cabinet and in line with the Authority’s three year Budget Strategy.
On first examination the Authority’s performance against Strategic Plan activities was not as strong as had been anticipated, but analysis indicated that most targets would be achieved by the end of January 2009. However there were areas of concern and Directorates had been requested to note underperformance where appropriate and take mitigating action. Some red traffic indicators should also be seen in the context of extremely ambitious targets set for itself by the Authority, whilst others which were green merited further examination.
Councillor Peck, Lead Member Resources and Performance, commented that he had been present at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the previous evening, and noted the concerns raised regarding the Authority’s safeguarding work and the need to ensure that Children’s Services Social Work Services were adequately resourced. He considered this to be a considerable challenge in the context of the level of need in the Borough and the growth in this area, given ongoing work to identify children at risk and also to the need to make provision for any recommendations/ work arising from the outcome of the Baby P case in Haringey. He had also noted the concerns raised in the discussion regarding the significant overspend in Facilities Management.
Nevertheless the overall projection was an underspend in 2008/09. However, this masked a series of overspends within Directorates and Councillor Peck reminded Corporate Directors that the Cabinet expected them to control their expenditure within the limits set for them by the Council.
With regard to performance extraordinary achievements were reflected in the report, but it was clear that some targets had not been met. He considered it better to set an ambitious target and not achieve it whilst still making considerable progress, rather than to set a narrow target and achieve far less, however Corporate Directors must examine performance against target in order to drive performance, maintain four star status as an authority and accelerate progress.
Councillor Francis, Lead Member Housing and Development, in referring to Appendix 3 “Tower Hamlets Index Performance Charts August to September 2008/09” and the red traffic indicators for strategic indicators 208 “Affordable homes delivered” and 223 “Number of social rented housing completions for family housing” were inevitably indicative of the downturn in the property market and the impact of that to deliver social housing, but he was optimistic that the measures agreed elsewhere on the agenda would bring performance back on track if not this year then over the term of the Local Area Agreement.
Mr Collins, Corporate Director Children’s Services, outlined the immediate steps taken by the Authority in the context of the Baby P case in Haringey including working to support staff and boost morale particularly amongst social workers.
Councillor Peck commented that the demonisation of social workers in the Baby P media coverage had been appalling given the difficult role they undertook daily, and that this could only make their jobs more difficult and potentially put children at greater risk. Accordingly Councillor Peck Moved and it was Resolved that the Cabinet formally recognise the good work being undertaken by social workers in Tower Hamlets and place on record the high value placed on them and the role they undertook by the Administration.
The Chair Moved the recommendations as set out in the report, and it was: -
Resolved:
1. That the progress against Strategic Plan activities and milestones, as set out in Section 3 and Appendix 1 of the report (CAB 080/089], be noted;
2. That performance against targets for Strategic Indicators, as set out in Section 4.3 and Appendix 2 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted;
3. That performance against targets for Priority Indicators, as set out in Section 4.10 and Appendix 3 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted;
4. That the projected outturn for Directorate service budgets and for the total General Fund net expenditure budget for 2008/2009, as set out in section 5.2 and Appendices 5A-G of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted;
5. That the projected outturn for Directorate Trading Accounts for 2008/2009, as detailed in Section 6.2 and Appendix 6 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted;
6. That the virements over £250,000, as referred to in paragraph 7.1 and detailed in Appendix 7 of the report (CAB 080/089), be approved;
7. That the budget target adjustments, as detailed in Section 8 and Appendix 8 of the report (CAB 080/089), be agreed;
8. That performance against Service Improvement Growth targets, as set out in Section 9.1 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted;
9. That the projected spend against Area Based Grant (ABG), as detailed in section 10.1 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted; and
10. That the 2008/09 performance against savings targets, as detailed in section 11 and Appendix 9 of the report (CAB 080/089), be noted.
Supporting documents:
- Strategic Plan & CRBM Qtr 2 Final CAB 031208, item 11.4 PDF 237 KB
- Strategic Plan & CRBM Qtr 2 Appx 1, item 11.4 PDF 69 KB
- Strategic Plan & CRBM Qtr 2 Appx 2, item 11.4 PDF 33 KB
- Strategic Plan & CRBM Qtr 2 Appx 3, item 11.4 PDF 81 KB
- Strategic Plan & CRBM Qtr 2 Appx 4, item 11.4 PDF 53 KB
- Strategic Plan & CRBM Qtr 2 Appx 5A to G, item 11.4 PDF 64 KB
- Strategic Plan & CRBM Qtr 2 Appx 6, item 11.4 PDF 17 KB
- Strategic Plan & CRBM Qtr 2 Appx 7, item 11.4 PDF 11 KB
- Strategic Plan & CRBM Qtr 2 Appx 8, item 11.4 PDF 12 KB
- Strategic Plan & CRBM Qtr 2 Appx 9, item 11.4 PDF 12 KB