To:	Overview and Scrutiny Commission

7 October 2021

Council Plan Overview Report

Statutory Scrutiny Officer

1	Introduction

1.1	The Centre for Public Scrutiny’s briefing paper ‘Putting financial and performance management information to good use’ stated that “Performance management is a method for improving services – it’s about making things better for local people and about ensuring that the way services are planned and delivered provides value for money”.

1.2	The Council Plan Overview Report (CPOR) covering the fourth quarter of 2020/21 is attached. This briefing is intended to assist those involved in scrutiny to consider the information shared to provide insight into whether improvements or adjustments are necessary to support the work of the Council.

2	Supporting Information

2.1	The Council Plan sets out the key objectives for 2019 to 2023. It delivers the commitments made to residents in the 2019 local election. It puts these commitments into the current financial context and provides the council with a strategic direction and framework.

2.2	At the end of each quarter, the Chief Executive provides a high-level summary report of performance across all services to the Executive, this is known as the Council Plan performance overview report or CPOR. This report identifies achievements as well as areas of concern and demonstrates how action is being taken where it is required.

2.3	When reviewing the performance data attached Commission members could consider:

has performance, according to the council’s own measures, been poor for two successive quarters?

do the number and nature of complaints suggest that there are causes for concern?

does recent work relating to self-regulation or other assessment or inspection activities, suggest that there is cause for common concern?

is this a priority for the organisation at the moment?

are significant over or underspends being reported?

have there been issues with demand or supply and what does it tell us about the future?

has spending on this specific project or policy achieved value for money and what social value has it added?

does performance and finance information align with your own research?, particularly the experience of service-users

Finally consider whether the criteria have been reached to suggest to the Commission that further time is spent on a specific matter through:

the relevant portfolio member being invited to address the issue at a future meeting or

additional review activity taking priority other which scheduled activity within the Overview and Scrutiny work programme?

2.2	Members of the Commission are asked to submit technical or detailed questions in advance of the meeting.

3	Equalities Impact Assessment

3.1	The Council Plan focuses on the things that matter most to Bracknell Forest residents based on a narrative which recognises Bracknell Forest as “the borough of opportunity". When aligning performance and finance information with the experiences of service users’ members of the Commission should consider the potential impact on all of the borough’s residents.

4	Strategic Risk Management Issues

4.1	Effective scrutiny is important to the successful functioning of local democracy by securing the efficient delivery of Council services and driving improvements. Overview and Scrutiny has a vital role in performance management by linking the planning and delivery of services to the experiences of and impact upon local people. Poor scrutiny can be indicative of wider governance, leadership and/or service failure.

Background Papers

Putting financial and performance management information to good use, CfGS

Putting-financial-and-performance-management-information-to-good-use.pdf (cfgs.org.uk)

Contact for further information

Kevin Gibbs, Executive Director: Resources and Statutory Scrutiny Officer

01344 355621

Kevin.gibbs@bracknell-forest.gov.uk