Issue - meetings

A report setting out the Audit Commission’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment , together with the Council’s Improvement Plan for the period July 2007 to June 2008, was submitted. It was also reported that the Improvement Director had considered the Improvement Plan and had highlighted twelve additional points which he felt should be added, and these details, having been considered and approved at the last meeting of the Cabinet, were circulated to members.

RESOLVED that the Board notes:

(a)       the Audit Commission’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment report, and in particular the areas for improvement set out on page 7 thereof,

(b)       the Improvement Plan for 2007-08, and that the Board concur with the view that the Plan addresses the issues raised in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment;

(c)        that the Improvement Plan 2007-08 does cross-reference to the recommendations contained in the Audit Commission’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment report and also contains other actions for 2007-08 which are designed to deliver the Council Plan 2007-2010;

(d)       the changes to the Council Plan, as set out in paragraph 3.4 of the report,  which were based on the Corporate Management Team’s view of the Council’s capacity to deliver the Council Plan 2007-2010;

(e)       that further updates to the Improvement Plan 2007-08 may be required, based on discussions between the Improvement Director and the Corporate Management Team: and

(f)         that, in an endeavour to track the progress of all recommendations made by the Board, and to ensure that Cabinet is being held to account, a regular quarterly report be submitted to the Board outlining the progress to date (or otherwise) of any recommendations made during the preceeding quarter.

RECOMMENDED:

(a)       that, insofar as paragraph 63 of the Corporate Performance Assessment document was concerned (Performance Management of Corporate Projects), the Cabinet be requested to submit a briefing note on how the implementation of the Spatial Project was progressing to date, and that the appropriate Portfolio holder and relevant Head of Service be invited to address the Board at their next meeting in this regard; and

(b)       that, at future meetings, when considering a report on a relevant topic, the appropriate Portfolio holder should be invited to address the Board and be fully briefed by the appropriate officer(s).