EALING COUNCIL STOLE MY CHILDREN FOR MONEY!!!!

Report for:
INFORMATION



Item Number:



Contains Confidential or Exempt Information

NO

Title
Performance Update 2nd Quarter 2004/05
Responsible Officer
Graeme McDonald
Acting Head of Performance and Scrutiny
Direct Line 020 8825 7485
e-mail: mcdonalg@ealing.gov.uk
Author
Mac Magon
e-mail – magonm@ealing.gov.uk
Direct Line 020 8825 6773
Portfolio
All
For Consideration By
Cabinet
Date to be Considered
14th December 2004
Implementation Date if Not Called In
28th December 2004
Affected Wards
N/A
Area Committees
N/A
Keywords/Index
Performance Management, Performance Indicators (PIs), Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA).

Purpose of Report:
Quarterly reporting of performance indicators provides a clear picture of how the Council is performing during the course of the year and allows more effective reporting of annual performance.

Corporate Board monitors progress to ensure priorities are delivered. Areas where performance is not progressing satisfactorily are highlighted within these quarterly reports for Cabinet.


1.0. Recommended Actions
This report is for information only.

2.0. Indicators identified as high risk or with significant variance

2.1. Services to Individuals
2.1.1. Children’s Social Services.
Percentage of children in care with 3 or more placements. (BV49).

This is a reported as 10.5% against a cumulative target of 8%. Monthly analysis is being undertaken to identify coding errors and ensure correct reporting as well as reviewing operational performance. The aim is to improve and bring this figure down i.e. to have fewer placements of children.


Adoptions of looked after children. (BV163).

At the half year stage there had been 12 adoptions, representing 3.4% of total against a year-end target of 8%. Although below the mid year target of 4%, additional adoptions are expected in the second half of the year. This is due to the creation of a dedicated adoption advisor post. This officer regularly discusses progress with social workers, reviewing officers, guardians and the legal department, and tracks the adoptions of children.

2.1.2. Adult Social Services
Percentage of people receiving a statement of their needs. (BV58).

At the half-year stage this was reported as 35% against a revised target of 50%. This indicator will only consider those people who have been sent a written statement of their needs. Currently, recording is distorted by visits, with notification handed over and telephone calls. Remedial action to analyse the figure has begun. Members of the Adult Services Management Team (ASMT) are visiting each team explaining the necessity for this information to be entered in a usable format onto the system. Within the Older peoples team in central Ealing, a revision exercise has been undertaken to send out statement of needs and to revise the coding on the computer system. These remedial actions have resulted in improved performance which including October, is now at 67%.




2.2. Services to Communities
2.2.1. Environmental Services
The percentage of household waste recycled / composted. (BV82a / b).

The mid year performance for recycling is 11.42%, which is below the target of 20%. Similarly, 3.79% of waste is being composted against the target of 5%. The combined total is just over 15% compared to the challenging target of 25%. There has been a doorstep campaign to raise the level of recycling, made possible through the London Recycling Fund. The service expects to achieve a full year result close to 18%.


2.2.2. Development Control
Percentage of planning applications determined within target. (BV109).

The figures have been recalculated in line with the updated ODPM definition. The amended cumulative figures for the half-year are:-

PI
Half Year
National target
Likelihood to meet target


BVPI 109a - Major
67%
60%
Likely to meet national.

BVPI 109b - Minor
49%
65%
On track to meet national.

BVPI 109c - Other
56%
80%
On track to meet national.

2.3. Human Resources
The number of days / shifts lost to sickness. (BV12).

The number of days / shifts lost due to sickness continues to improve. For the first half of the year the number is 3.98 days against a target of 5 days. This is due to improved absence management as well as seasonal conditions.

2.4. Housing / Environmental Health
The percentage of homes, which are non-decent. (BV184a).

The revised stock condition survey in December 2003 produced a new picture of the condition of the stock when compared to those of the previous survey. It was more wide-ranging and in-depth and revealed a more detailed, less favourable position. At 31/03/04, it was found that 38% of homes were non decent. The half-year figure shows an improvement to 34%, this being within the year-end target of 35.5%.

The percentage change in non-decent homes. (BV184b).

Half-year performance appears very good. From a start figure of 5252 non-decent homes, 654 homes have since been made decent. During this time however, a further 140 are estimated to have become non decent. This equates to a net change of 9.8% against a target of 5.9%.

Following on from the reservations raised against this PI during the recent audit, BV184a/b will be audited as part of the interim audit being programmed.

The length of stay in Bed & Breakfasts and Hostels. (BV183a / b)

The mid year performance is 23 weeks for both B&B and hostels. This is within the target of 38 and 30 weeks respectively. The improvement results from finding temporary homes for families who were residing in B&B and hostel accommodation.


2.3. Business Support
The percentage of invoices paid within 30 days. (BV8)

The performance to date is 62% and below the target of 80%. This is largely due to invoices being forwarded late from services to the central payments section. The Corporate finance section is trying to identify where these delays occur in an effort to improve performance in the next quarter.


3.0. PSA Performance Indicators
3.1. Appendix 1 lists the second quarter performance for those PIs reported quarterly. We met the interim target for PSA 10, Improving the street scene and are on track for achieving the final PSA target. We are on track to meet the 60% enhancement of the final target for PSA 4, Reducing domestic burglary and the sub target for PSA 11a, Increasing physical activity levels for 12 consecutive weeks. We are unlikely to meet the 60% enhancement target for PSA 6, improving the standard of social housing.

3.2. Interim reward
The current PSA agreement ends 31/03/05. Where interim levels of performance have been agreed and achieved, the Government will pay 20% of the grant attributed to that target or sub target a year earlier than that of the main grant, (a potential of £127,160 per interim target achieved). This is treated as a 'payment on account'. The ODPM expects to be able to make payments of performance reward grant on account before 31/03/05 where claims are received by 01/02/05.

Recent analysis indicates we achieved the interim targets and sub targets for the following PIs: - (see Appendix 2).
· PSA 2 - Raising educational achievement of young people in care, the interim target was achieved which earns £127,160.
· PSA 3 – Maximising the contribution adoption can make (sub target with 30% weighting achieved earns £38,148.
· PSA 5 – Reducing deaths / injuries on the road (sub target with 20% weighting achieved earns £25,432.
· PSA 10 - Improving the street scene in Ealing, the interim target was achieved which earns £127,160.

The total interim reward grant earned is £317,900. The maximum available, had all 12 interim targets been met, was £1,525,920. The grant will be split 50% for revenue and 50% for capital expenditure.

3.3. Main reward grant
The main grant will be paid in two equal instalments in the two financial years following the end of the PSA. At Ealing, the PSA ends in March 2005. Therefore, the instalments would be due 2005/06 and 2006/07.

The Performance team is presently meeting with managers to discuss the likelihood of meeting the PSA targets. Based on the reported mid year performance, it is predicted that we will achieve the 60% enhancement target for at least 7 of the PSA PIs. These being:-
· PSA 2 - Raising educational achievement of young people in care.
· PSA 3 - Maximising the contribution adoption can make to providing permanent families for children.
· PSA 4 - Crime - Reducing domestic burglary.
· PSA 5- Road Safety - Reducing deaths and injuries on the roads of Ealing.
· PSA 8 - Increasing the take-up of library services by minority ethnic groups.
· PSA 10 - Street Scene - Improving the street scene throughout Ealing.
· PSA 11 – Increase physical activity.

Should we achieve the minimum 60% of the stretch for each of the above PIs, it will be worth a maximum total of £2,670,360, less the interim payments received in 2004/05. However, 100% achievement will be worth a maximum total of £4,450,600, less the interim payments. The grant will be split 50% for revenue and 50% for capital expenditure.