Meeting documents

To consider the Outcomes Focused Monitoring Report at January 2018.

The Outcomes Focused Monitoring report - as at January 2018 - set out progress against the 2017-18 Corporate Plan. The report provided relevant data on the population indicators within the prosperous outcome and:-

·         performance measures - by which the County Council could measure the contribution and impact of its own services and activities on the outcomes

·         risk management  information - identifying the current level of risks on the Corporate Risk Register that related to outcomes and the population indicators

The Committee were being asked to make an assessment of current progress and to identify any priorities for further investigation. Attention was drawn to productivity and how there was scope for improvement to this. The suppression of wages and what this meant for standards of living in certain areas of deprivation in the county – parts of Weymouth being one - was acknowledged. Typically the commercial vibrancy of seaside towns was influenced by seasonal trade, employment and attractions. What scope there was for this to be addressed and improvements made was discussed. Officers recognised those areas in particular need and confirmed that action was being targeted so that issues could be addressed though the skills agenda. From this, improvements could be made, with scope for social mobility being actively pursued though this means. Moreover, Government funding had been allocated to 12 identifiable "Opportunity Areas" countrywide – socially deprived regions that would benefit from a funding injection to meet particular needs. The Committee considered that there could be a good case made for socially deprived wards within Weymouth being included in such designated areas, with evidence supporting this, and efforts should be made for this to be actively pursued. The County Councillor for Weymouth Town agreed to play his part in ensuring that the Melcombe Regis Board had some input into this. He was also keen to promote what attributes Weymouth had, asking that consideration be given to promoting wave and tidal  power and the benefits this could bring.

From the report it could be seen that the condition of county roads had slightly deteriorated and this could be attributed to the reduction of road maintenance funding available.  In reducing the need for travel could have a reduction on the abrasion of the road network and, in turn, maintenance needs would not be so great.

Turning to Children’s Services, Doug Gilbert outlined the performance of attainment levels amongst pupils, how these had been assessed and what might be done to see improvements being made.  A contributing factor to this was the way in which nationally grading had been changed – in going from an alphabetical to numerical system - which was not necessarily conducive to comparison.  Moreover, how Ofsted had " raised the bar" in now adjudging the performance of schools was also reflected in the performance standards being shown. The County Council had a part to play in ensuring employers, especially small businesses, understood the changes to the grading levels and took this into account when job applications were being made. Ways in which the Dorset LEP could become more engaged in what the skills agenda had to offer was felt to be critical to its success. Efforts would be made for their involvement to be reinvigorated. Similarly schools had an integral part to play in ensuring that children had the right skills to be able to access future opportunities and that they were aware of what options were available to them.

The Committee asked to be updated on a regular basis on what improvements – or otherwise - were being made. This should remain a focus for all that the Committee did, as skills underpinned any success that was able to be achieved. Any funding opportunities should be identified wherever possible, with what other authorities were doing being used as basis for what Dorset could do. This would ensure Dorset was in the best position possible to meet what lay ahead. 

Resolved

1)That the evidence of Dorset’s position with regard to the outcome indicators in Appendix 1 of the report be noted; and:

2) that the issues and opportunities identified in the above text be actively pursued, where possible and practicable.

Reason for Decision

The 2017-18 Corporate Plan provides an overarching strategic framework for monitoring progress towards good outcomes for Dorset. The Overview and Scrutiny Committees provide corporate governance and performance monitoring arrangements so that progress against the corporate plan can be monitored effectively.