Contact: Jenny Heath, Corporate Performance Manager, ext 7402

1 Summary

1.1 This report outlines progress with writing the current Best Value Performance Plan for 2002/03 and proposes a future timetable for reporting which integrates production of the performance plan with reporting on performance generally and with the development and review of strategic plans.

2 Timetable

2.1 As seen elsewhere on the agenda, some important changes have occurred in the timetable for the production of the Best Value Performance Plan arising from the Local Government White Paper. These are specifically:

· The council tax leaflet has carried a slightly expanded trailer for the summary performance information being published in Hampshire Now

· The spring edition of Hampshire Now contains an 8-page pull-out summary of performance information, covering key performance issues. Although the link has been made to the full performance plan, it no longer aims to summarise that document. It will be issued to all Members, as well as all Hampshire households, from week commencing 25 March 2002.

· The full performance plan will be published by 30 June, containing as much actual performance data as possible. Reference will be made to the fact that some information is still estimated and how to obtain the full set of actual data in the autumn.

· A full set of actual performance information will be published in the local press in the autumn.

· The links between the summary performance information and the council tax leaflet will be explored in greater detail once the DTLR guidance is published, with a view to planning for 2003.

3 Member involvement

3.1 A Member working group was set up following a decision by Cabinet to involve Members from Policy Review Committees in its design and production. The nominated members, who have participated in two meetings in January to contribute to the summary document, are:

Cllr J V Bryant

Cllr A P Collett

Cllr B D Dash

Cllr W J Filer

Cllr Mrs M S Glasspool

Cllr J K West

Cllr W H Wheeler

4 Outline content of the full plan

4.1 Although the Local Government White Paper proposes a streamlining of the information required, guidance has not yet been received. Therefore, the content of the full plan follows a similar format to previous years, linking closely with the Corporate Strategy. Appendix 1 provides an outline of the document. Information is currently being provided by departments and analysis is underway to evaluate performance.

5 Cycle of reporting

5.1 There is a range of both member and officer meetings which should consider the various sources of performance information which form the basis of the performance plan. These sources of information are:

· The five year programme of Best Value reviews and the outcomes of the reviews

· National and local performance indicators: measuring past performance, forecasting current year outturn and setting stretching future targets

· Progress with priorities and targets set in the Corporate Strategy; these are also reported as departmental `achievements'

· Results of inspections and other accrediting regimes, such as Investors in People and Chartermark

· Results of consultation exercises

5.2 The following table gives an outline of when these pieces of information are collated and analysed. It is not possible at this stage to convert this into a firm reporting timetable for Cabinet, Policy Review Committees and officer groups, as there are still a number of unknowns, such as the anticipated government guidance

.

Recommendation

1 That progress with the current Best Value Performance Plan and the developing outline timetable for future reporting are noted.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

None

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.