The report of the Chief Executive (Document “BR”) provides a summary of the high level achievements of the Authority as well as performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for 2019-20. As the final performance report for the Council Plan 2016-2020 period, this report also provides a summary of what has been achieved over the last four years.

The Council will be developing a new Council Plan later this year which will potentially require a new set of KPIs, based around our revised priorities in light of the challenges presented by the COVID 19 pandemic. This report recommends that we continue to monitor the existing Key Performance Indicators based around our priorities and reset these at the point in time the new Council Plan is set. 

Recommended -

(1)          That the progress against performance metrics outlined in Document “BR” be noted.

(2)          That Executive agree that the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) continue to be monitored until new targets are set as part of our future planning activity.

(3)          That Executive agree that the Council will monitor at the public level a number of performance metrics related to employment for people with protected characteristics as outlined in section 6 of Document “BR.

(Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

(Phil Witcherley – 01274 43141)

The report of the Chief Executive (Document “BR”) provided a summary of the high level achievements of the Authority as well as performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for 2019-20. As the final performance report for the Council Plan 2016-2020 period, this report also provided a summary of what has been achieved over the last four years.

The Council would be developing a new Council Plan later this year which would potentially require a new set of KPIs, based around the Council’s  revised priorities in light of the challenges presented by the COVID 19 pandemic. This report recommended that the Council continue to monitor the existing Key Performance Indicators based around its priorities and reset these at the point in time the new Council Plan is set. 

Reference was made to the Council’s commitment to support local spend and it was noted that in the last year £196m was spent with local suppliers which was an additional £9.1m on the previous year.

The Regeneration, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder thanked officers working on homelessness and rough sleeping and noted that two housing partnerships led by the Council had been shortlisted for a nationally recognised UK Housing Award.  He commended the team on their work during the Covid-19 pandemic in working to support those who were homeless and help to get them into more secure and long term accommodation

An opposition member attended the meeting and noted that 6 of the 7 KPI’s Great Start Good Schools were still red.  He asked what could be done to deal with the issue of unauthorised absence?

He noted that the time taken to produce Education and Health Care Plans (EHCPs) was longer than the national average and whilst acknowledging that progress had been made in reducing the time scale. stressed that parents needed reassurance that the timescale would be reduced further.

He asked what the criteria were for providing pupils with laptops.

He noted the high sickness levels among Council employees and asked whether discussions had taken place with the Unions to improve this.

The Leader responded that austerity had impacted performance. With regard to unauthorised absence Bradford was not unique and that innovative work was being undertaken to address the issue. The time taken to produce ECHPs had improved since the figures were collated, and 6000 laptops had been issued to children with social workers.

The Strategic Director of Children’s Services added that unauthorised absence was a challenge and that tackling it was a priority for the coming year. With regard to EHCPs he advised that the production of plans had been impacted by the backlog of cases and added that a backlog of 600 cases 12 months ago had now been cleared and he was confident that improvements would be forthcoming.  He noted that 600 laptops had been allocated through secondary schools and that a further 700 would be distributed that week. He added that the DfE criteria for allocation had been to those children with a social worker and that the laptops had to be configured by IT.  He further added that tablets for primary school children would be allocated next.

The Education, Employment and Skills Portfolio Holder noted that an investment of £300k had been made into the SEND Team and that the compliance rate for EHCPs was on an upward trend with 90% completed in the last month compared to 76% in the previous month.  He was confident that by the end of the year there would be a significant increase in the number of completed plans.

The Strategic Director of Corporate Resources reported that absence rates were reducing with a marked reduction during the Covid-19 pandemic, and added that discussionswere taking place with unions regarding mental health support to build on this, and to focus on prevention and keeping staff well.

The Leader thanked staff on their work in difficult circumstances and praised them for their flexibility in working in new and unfamiliar roles.

The Leader of the Opposition Group attended the meeting and asked the following questions:

Can funding be provided for the IT team supporting members?

West Yorkshire had been awarded £67m to develop brown field sites.  Does Bradford have any “shovel ready” sites?

With reference to using local suppliers he asked why a local bakery in Saltaire was not able to supply schools and asked if the contract could be revisited?

He referred to staff sickness levels at 13% and noted that measures were needed to find out why staff were off sick and how they could be helped.

With reference to IT issues experienced by members the Leader urged them to check their own home IT connections as issues were not always related to the Council’s IT system.  She went on to thank the IT team for their support to members.

With reference to the local bakery in Saltaire the Leader stressed that members did not make decisions on awarding contracts, but noted that the Head of Procurement could speak to them about the process to follow to tender for contracts.

The Leader and the Regeneration, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder welcomed the £67m investment in brown field sites and indicated that the Council would bid through the Combined Authority. 

The Assistant Director, Economy and Development noted that work was on going to identify sites that were “shovel ready” in the ownership of the Council and other public sector partners. There were, however, challenges with the sites and a lot of work would be required. She added that it was hoped to bring forward housing and employment sites soon and that this was potentially very good news for Bradford with which the Council was fully engaged.

Resolved -

(1)          That the progress against performance metrics outlined in Document “BR” be noted.

(2)          That the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) continue to be monitored until new targets are set as part of our future planning activity.

(3)          That the Council will monitor at the public level a number of performance metrics related to employment for people with protected characteristics as outlined in section 6 of Document “BR.

ACTION:        Chief Executive

                        All Strategic Directors

(Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee)