Performance Reporting 2018/19: Six Month Monitoring Report October 2018 – March 2019

Purpose of report

For decision.

Summary

The six-month performance monitoring report presents a summary of the LGA’s performance against its business plan and its internal priorities over the period 1 October 2018 to 31 March 2019

Recommendation That the LGA Leadership Board approves the six month monitoring report and highlights any areas for further action or reporting. Action Officers to initiate any required action.

Contact officer:	Claire Holloway / Donna Gallagher

Position:	Head of Corporate Services / Performance Officer

Phone no:	020 7664 3156 / 020 7664 3111

Email:	claire.holloway@local.gov.uk/ donna.gallagher@local.gov.uk

Performance Reporting 2018/19: Six Month Monitoring Report October 2018 – March 2019

Background

Following approval of the Business Plan in September 2018, all objectives have been reviewed and updated in line with the updated plan. The LGA’s Strategic Management Team undertakes a quarterly monitoring of the business plan priorities, corporate health indicators, major projects and risk.

The Strategic Risk Register is circulated to the Corporate Leadership Team on a quarterly basis to update current risks and propose additional risks.

Since January 2019, information on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests have been included in the performance report.

This report covers the six months from October 2018 to March 2019 and falls into 5 sections:

The six policy focus areas identified in the business plan – Funding for local government; Adult social care and health; Children, education and schools; Housing; Inclusive growth, jobs and devolution; Britain’s exit from the EU.

Improvement support via the performance indicators developed for reporting to MHCLG.

Our own efficiency and effectiveness – via our corporate health indicators.

Major projects dashboard.

Strategic Risk Register.

Commentary

All policy and finance objectives are on track to be delivered. Key achievements include:

Began establishing our Spending Review lobbying platform and engaging with Government

Held an event for 80 councils focusing modern slavery

Produced a comprehensive briefing for member councils summarising the key proposals in the NHS Long Term Plan

Continued to highlight and promote jour social care, health and wellbeing green paper The Lives We Want to Lead.

Published Bright Futures: One Year On setting out the LGA’s achievements over the past year and outlining where more work is needed to achieve our objectives

Hosted a Housing, Planning and Infrastructure conference with a keynote speech from Kit Malthouse MP.

Collaborated with the Cities and Local Growth Unit to deliver a comprehensive Local Industrial Strategy (LIS) support offer to councils and their local partners

Delivered leadership essentials courses on Prevent Counter Extremism and Cohesion and Sport and Culture.

Established a Brexit Task Force to help support councils

Media coverage of all six LGA focus areas increased by ten per cent overall, with the largest increases in coverage of inclusive growth, jobs and devolution; funding for local government; and children’s, education and schools.

In relation to the indicators agreed with MHCLG for 2018/19, 50 currently stand at green, with two not fully delivered. Key highlights include:

842 councillors attended our leadership courses

145 peer challenges delivered, including 71 corporate/finance peer challenge

tailored peer support through member or officer peers provided to 61 councils

support to 60 councils as part of the new housing experts programme

productivity experts deployed 42 councils, helping them save a projected £42.6m

support to 26 councils to improve engagement and communication with their communities

financial advice to 42 councils, including through our Finance Advisers

123 graduates recruited as part of cohort 20 of the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP)

The two targets not fully achieved were:

The number of councils who have not had a corporate peer challenge since 2012. We achieved 63 against a target of 56.

Workforce strategy published by September 2018. This was delayed pending new data and the NHS workforce strategy but has now been published on the LGA website.

In March 2019 outstanding debt between 3-12 months temporarily increased to 38 per cent pending receipt of £2m of grant funding income. This was received in April.

A breakdown of staff numbers is now included in the ‘our efficiency and effectiveness’ section of this report. This will in future be further broken down to give a clearer picture of LGA staffing and growth.

The Strategic Risk Register is included in the appendices. In addition the LGA’s three major projects - the refurbishments of 18 Smith Square and Layden House and establishment of LG Mutual – are monitored and separately reported to the Board. 18 Smith Square will continue to be monitored until all final defects have been resolved and tenants have been secured for the second and third floors.

In the period from October 2018 to March 2019, no major data breaches were reported to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). In December 2019 the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) notified the LGA of a cyber security incident. An investigation by an independent third party found no evidence of data breach and no requirement to report to ICO.

The LGA received 11 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in the period January to March 2019, all of which were responded to in accordance with FOIA requirements. Following its transition to an unlimited company, the LGA now falls within the definition of a public authority and has a legal obligation to fully comply with FOIA. The IT and Business Management team will continue to monitor and report on FOI requests received.