Issue - meetings

(Finance, Performance Management and Corporate Support Services Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C/014/2007-08).

(1)        That the draft Best Value Performance Plan for 2007/08 be recommended to the Council for adoption; and

(2)        That, in order to incorporate outstanding details in relation to the Council’s user satisfaction performance for 2006/07, the Joint Chief Executive (Resources) be authorised to amend the draft Best Value Performance Plan as necessary prior to its adoption by the Council.

The Finance, Performance Management and Corporate Support Services Portfolio Holder presented a report concerning the Best Value Performance Plan for 2007/08. The Cabinet were informed that the production of an annual Best Value Performance Plan was a statutory requirement that: summarised the Council’s successes in meeting its key priorities, objectives and targets for the previous year; highlighted where these priorities, objectives and targets were not met; and detailed the key priorities, objectives and targets for the forthcoming year.

The Cabinet were reminded that the Best Value Performance Plan had been produced in two different versions. In accordance with a recommendation from the Audit Commission, a summary version had been distributed to all households in the District with the annual Council Tax demands in March, and this had been agreed by the Cabinet at its meeting on 5 February 2007. The detailed version was primarily prepared for the Council itself, the Government, the Audit Commission and other bodies involved in the evaluation and assessment of the Council’s performance. It was highlighted to the Cabinet that both versions reflected the Portfolio structure of the Council that was in operation prior to the recent annual meeting.

The Portfolio Holder further added that in order to reduce the overall length of the Best Value Performance Plan, much of the non-statutory detail had been removed, and the corporate and strategic information previously included in the Best Value Performance Plan had been transferred to the revised Council Plan. The Cabinet were also reminded that the Council meeting on 28 June 2007 would be the final opportunity for non-members of the Cabinet to discuss the proposed amendments.

            Decision:

(1)            That the draft Best Value Performance Plan for 2007/08 be recommended to the Council for adoption; and

(2)            That, in order to incorporate outstanding details in relation to the Council’s user satisfaction performance for 2006/07, the Joint Chief Executive (Resources) be authorised to amend the draft Best Value Performance Plan as necessary prior to its adoption by the Council.

Reasons for Decision:

Recommending the Plan to the Council for approval would enable its publication to meet the statutory timescale, as any failure to comply would result in the qualification of the Plan by the Audit Commission.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

None, as the Council was required by statute to publish its Best Value Performance Plan by 30 June 2007, and adoption of the Plan was a matter reserved for Council.