Archived decisions

 

Hampshire County Council

 

Policy and Resources Scrutiny and Select Committee

Item 14

 

11 July 2005

  
 

Best Value Reviews

 

Report of the Chief Executive

Contact: Nick Thomas, ext 7174; [email protected]

1 Introduction

1.1 This report outlines progress made in implementing the Improvement Plans for the following Best value Reviews led by this committee:

    · Economic prosperity

    · Support for the voluntary and community sector

    · International relations

    · Democratic services

    · Community engagement

    · Equality and diversity

1.2 The Best Value review programme is a key element in supporting Corporate Strategy aim 5; Improving services, with particular reference to the theme of `improving our performance'.

2 Background

2.1 The County Council had a statutory responsibility under the Local Government Act 1999 to develop and maintain a programme of reviews to ensure that all services being provided are offering Best Value. Once complete, each review must produce an annual report informing the relevant committee of the progress made with the improvement plan. These reports will also form part of the annual Performance Plan.

2.2 Greater flexibility under Best Value legislation combined with a move towards larger thematic cross-cutting reviews have lead to a reduction in the number of reviews undertaken.

2.3 Activities not included in cross-cutting reviews are covered by the service planning regime and service managers are being supported to adopt Best Value principles and techniques.

2.4 Further details on all the reviews listed above can be accessed through the Best Value website on www.hants.gov.uk/bestvalue

3 Member engagement

3.1 The following members were nominated to oversee the implementation of the Improvement Plans of the reviews shown

Review Title

Member(s)

Still on P&R SSC

Economic prosperity

Cllr Roberts
Cllr Ellis
Cllr Snaith
Cllr Heath

No

Yes

No

No

Voluntary and community sector

Cllr Snaith

Cllr Chegwin

Cllr Ellis

No

No

Yes

International relations

Cllr M Cartwright

Cllr A Collett

Cllr P Pierce

Cllr C Laversha

Cllr M Roberts

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Democratic services

Cllr A Rice

Cllr M Cartwright

Cllr A Ludlow

No

Yes

No

Community engagement

Cllr C Davidovitz

Cllr B Dash

Cllr R Ellis

Cllr M J Roberts

No

Yes

Yes

No

Equality and diversity

Cllr Pat West

Cllr Ludlow

Cllr Wheeler (deceased)

No

No

No

3.2 There are members involved in the incomplete Improvement Plans whom we assume will continue their involvement. In respect of the Equality and Diversity review, we understand Cllrs West and Ludlow will also continue involvement.

4 Review progress

4.1 The annual Performance Plan must summarise progress with implementing improvement plans following Best Value reviews. These are appended to this report. The status of each review is identified in the heading title. Once the improvement plans are completed, there will be no need to present further progress reports.

4.2 Economic prosperity - There are no new headline additions to make. All remaining actions have been subsumed into departmental planning and there will be an end-of- review report produced during summer 2005.

4.3 Voluntary and community sector (Appendix One) - This improvement plan is now complete.

4.4 International relations (Appendix Two) - This improvement plan is still ongoing with several areas still to be implemented, such as: the vision and strategy report due for cabinet in Autumn 2005 and monitoring and evaluation of indicators is still to be developed.

4.5 Democratic services (Appendix Three) - This improvement plan is still on-going with the review of scrutiny arrangements and pilot area committees in Test Valley and Havant still requiring member decisions.

4.6 Community engagement (Appendix Four) - Appendix to follow.

4.7 Equality and diversity (Appendix Five) - This improvement plan is still ongoing.

Recommendations

    1. That progress on each Improvement plan be noted

    2. That these summaries inform development of the Performance Plan which will be a web based document published on 30 June 2005

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.

 

TITLE LOCATION

Best Value Review Working File Held by each department named contact

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

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

Appendix 1

Name:

Support to the voluntary and community sector

Complete

Proposed improvements

    · Creation of central database of applications and allocations and website for information

    · Creation of clear points of contact and management

    · Strengthening of policy framework, improving information and access including application forms and criteria for decisions

    · Develop monitoring processes

    · Reviewing County Council membership of voluntary and community bodies

Progress in implementing the Improvement Plan

Database/website - Went live in February 2005

Management and contacts - Information Centres identified as main contact and training complete.

Policy framework etc - application forms reviewed and corporate `base' template created. All County Council grant application forms are now constructed from a basic common template.

Monitoring - database provides opportunities for monitoring number and type of grants given and background/location of beneficiaries. Ongoing monitoring to take place re. ease of use of application forms/website etc.

Review of membership - subsumed into review of Democratic Services.

Appendix 2

Name:

International Relations

On-going

Cross cutting review involving staff from Chief Executives, Environment, Personnel & Training & Property, Business & Regulatory Services with external challenge by officer from West Sussex County Council as part of the team.

Proposed improvements

· To identify how the current service can be enhanced within existing resources & as a second stage to see what additional improvements could be achieved with increased resource input.

The outcomes are:

· Corporate ownership & direction of County Council international activities;

· Shared understanding by staff & the wider community of Hampshire of why & how international relations are undertaken by the County Council & benefits to the people of Hampshire;

· Robust methodology for assessing the value of activities;

· Effective corporate & departmental partnerships that help deliver corporate & service priorities;

· Increased Member & staff involvement in international relations

Progress in implementing the Improvement Plan

· Vision & strategy: draft vision developed by Policy Unit & international officers group & being endorsed by DMTs. Report to Cabinet planned for autumn 2005

· Communication: ongoing reporting of successes.Web pages developed Jan. to March 2005 linked to Policy Unit pages

· Monitoring & evaluation: monitoring will be against vision so will follow endorsement of vision by departments. International officers group to seek best practice examples . No good examples of indicators, so more work needed to develop these.

· Partnerships: international officers group to review partnerships & their value during 2004. This has tended to be ad hoc as issues & activities occur, but assessment of current partnerships will be included as part of the Cabinet report.

· Internal engagement: Members briefing sessions held July 2003. Role & terms of reference for international officers group agreed by group & being endorsed by DMTs with vision. Ongoing information from Policy Unit & Brussels office to Members & officers. Additional corporate support provided through new post in Policy Unit from April 2003.

Appendix 3

Name:

Democratic Services

On-going

Cross cutting across all County Council Departments

Proposed improvements

The Review Team identified six key outcomes from the Review:-

· increased reliability, speed and consistency of processes;

· increased access to reports and information relating to decisions and the business of the Council;

· improved support for members in the local constituency role;

· efficient and effective deployment of resources;

· increased community engagement;

improved support and facilities for members to develop competence in their roles

Progress in implementing the Improvement Plan

· Key Actions:-

· Standing Orders relating to deputation procedures revised and online notification of deputation form available via Factsheet No. 2. Enhanced departmental liaison arrangements in place to support democratic processes. Application being made to National Quality Assurance Ltd. for accreditation. This is now completed and ISO 9001/2000 achieved

· Democratic Services staff trained to arrange for agendas etc. to be put onto Hantsweb and despatch timetables revised to secure earlier publication of agendas etc. This has been achieved.

· Enhanced consultation arrangements in place and Chief Officers considering new initiatives. Specific requirement for local members views to be incorporated into executive and committee reports. This has been achieved.

· Review of scrutiny arrangements and pilot area committees in Test Valley and Havant reinforce the need for 100% commitment to core work by Chief Executive's Democratic Services Unit. Streamlined monitoring arrangements for members allowances claims. Members Secretariat promoting best practice with Chief Officers. This is Ongoing with member decisions awaited.

· Efforts concentrated on enhancing opportunities for engagement and participation by young people, for example deputation procedure modified to enable under 18's who would not be on the electoral register to address committee meetings. County Council participation in HIOWLA project vis a vis electoral turnout. Enhanced availability of agendas and reports etc on Hantsweb. Linked with consultation Best Value Review being undertaken by Corporate Communications. Outcome of the latter still to go to PRSSC and cabinet.

· Enhanced training and development programme being formulated jointly by Chief Executive's Department and Hampshire Learning Centre and supplemented by corporate training in response to standards and service developments. This is achieved and continuing to respond to change. Also now using e-communication to members and press.

Contact for further information

David Hinxman, Head of Democratic Services on 01962 847339

Appendix 4

Appendix 5

Name:

Equality and Diversity

Complete

Cross cutting across all County Council Departments

Proposed improvements

    · Development of a more robust and challenging approach to enable leaders i.e. Chief Officers and Elected Members, to set the direction and manage performance.

    · A project based approach to delivering actions.

    · Ensure adequate funds available to support effective outcomes of projects.

    · An internal and external communications programme.

    · Better use of e.solutions.

    · Continued focus on equality & diversity training.

    · Develop staff and user reference groups to ensure their perspective is reflected in service improvement.

Progress in implementing the Improvement Plan

    · Effective organisational arrangements in place to enable the County Council to meet its statutory requirements on human rights, race, age, sexual orientation, gender, disability and religion.

    · Effective arrangements in place to enable the County Council to meet the specific duties under the Race Relations Amendment Act e.g. A Race Equality Scheme

    · Effective communications to ensure that staff are aware of their statutory duties and that members of the public are aware of how the County Council is responding to the requirements to ensure fair and equal access to services and employment

    · An equalities strategy and policy framework in place which:

    · reflects the latest and anticipates future legal changes

    · reflects the vision and objectives agreed in the Best Value Review

    · feeds into and flows from the Corporate Strategy

    · clearly identifies action in response to the general and specific duties of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act

Contact for further information

Jane Goodwin, Strategic Equalities and Diversity Adviser on 01962 813847