Each of the 'value for money' objectives below have a green, amber or red status.
The colours represent the progress made in relation to each objective. Green indicates that progress is being made as per our planned schedule. The numbers represent how many objectives have been allocated that status.
Quarter 3 2023 to 2024
Green
11
Amber
0
Red
2
Completed
3
Objective details
Select an objective below to learn more about what we've been doing.
1.01.02 Spending is within the approved budget for this year
Directorate: Resources
Section: Finance
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 58%
Status: Red
Comments:
The variances reported by directorates indicate expenditure above the approved budget (£0.358 million), after taking into account the balance on the corporate contingency (£2.662 million).
Once emerging issues are included the potential overspend increases to £1.229 million. This is an improvement of £0.310 million on reported variances and £0.701 million including emerging issues since last month. The figures include the impact of the 2023 to 2024 pay award.
Corrective action continues to make sure there is a balanced position by the end of the year.
1.01.05 Facilitate the successful delivery of existing business change projects
Directorate: Chief Executive's Office
Section: Business change
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Complete
Comments:
Projects successfully delivered and closure reports approved at the end of November. As planned a few projects have been transitioned to be delivered within the People Directorate where there remains work to be completed.
1.01.07 Make sure Business Change savings are validated and achieved
Directorate: Resources
Section: Finance
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 75%
Status: Red
Comments:
The savings linked to Business Change included in the 2023 to 2024 budget were:
- Adult Social Care - outcome focused reviews (£0.450 million)
- a £0.050 million saving relating to the Look Out
- a £0.050m saving relating to the letting of space at Time Square.
The outcome focused reviews have now been completed with £0.412 million of savings having been achieved. This was £0.028 million short of the target.
The latter 2 savings will not be achieved as the Look Out is not achieving its income targets and the NHS no longer plan to rent accommodation within Time Square.
1.01.09 Develop a new corporate business change programme
Directorate: Chief Executive's Office
Section: Business change
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 80%
Status: Green
Comments:
The new business change programme was approved alongside the Council Plan by council at the end of November.
The programme is an internal enabler of the delivery of the Council Plan, making sure that the council is fit for the future. The portfolio includes programmes for:
- Efficiency and Digitisation
- Workforce Retention and Recruitment
- Neighbourhood Regeneration and Assets
- Corporate Improvement
- Climate Change Enabling project
1.02.02 Identify and engage low income households
Directorate: People
Section: Early Help and Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 95%
Status: Green
Comments:
Action taken by the Welfare Team in quarter 3, resulted in over £20,000 of additional benefits and discounts, being obtained for residents.
LIFT campaigns for Attendance Allowance were also undertaken. Due to the lag in assessments of that benefit, results are expected in quarter 4.
1.02.03 Review Workforce and Organisational Development Strategy
Directorate: Resources
Section: HR and OD
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 December 2023
Percentage complete: 75%
Status: Green
Comments:
The project for retention and recruitment is being incorporated into the workforce strategy for a fuller refresh for April 2024.
1.02.06 Deploy recruitment and retention strategy
Directorate: Resources
Section: HR and OD
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 60%
Status: Green
Comment
The business change project on retention and recruitment has been established with priority areas identified. The work plan is being developed but will include an anticipated reduction in the spend on agency workers across the council.
1.02.16 Deliver the action plan of the Customer Experience Strategy
Directorate: Delivery
Section: Customer Experience, Digital & ICT
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 50%
Status: Green
Comments:
Following the successful launch of automated web assistants on the waste and recycling pages of this website, the programme of work to extend this capability to other web pages has resulted in the web assistant now being available to support online Council Tax enquiries. In addition, facilitated web chat, through Customer Services, continues to be available on many of the web pages.
An automated visitor management system to support the check-in arrangements for those visitors with pre-arranged meetings at Time Square is expected to 'go-live' during the next quarter.
A module to assist Customer Services in managing customer emails is also expected to 'go-live' during the next quarter. The module is part of the Netcall Liberty suite of products and will help to manage emails in a more systematic and productive way.
1.02.17 Deliver the Digital and ICT Strategy
Directorate: Delivery
Section: Customer Experience, Digital & ICT
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 December 2023
Percentage complete: 76%
Status: Green
Comments:
Windows Hello and Multi-Factor Authorisation roll out is over 60% complete with expectation of full project closure by end of March 2024, enhancing and improving our security position.
Work has started on adoption of additional labelling for data within Microsoft with a view of starting to adopt Data Loss Prevention in quarter 1 of the 2024 to 2025 financial period.
1.02.18 Implement adult social care Client Financial Management system for deputyship
Directorate: People
Section: Adult Social Care
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 August 2023
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Complete
Comments:
The module went live in August 2023. Staff are working on inputting the client data and will then focus on adopting the financial reconciliation process as part of business as usual.
1.02.20 Progress the implementation of Adult Social Care online financial assessment
Directorate: People
Section: Adult Social Care
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 98%
Status: Green
Comments:
An initial review is under way now that the customer portal is live. During the final quarter we will be looking to align the customer portal and the online financial assessment portal. The delivery of the financial assessment tool is essentially complete, however due to the final steps required to align the 2 portals, the final completion date has been extended to March 2024 from December 2023.
1.02.21 Implement adult social care customer portal for online referral and initial needs assessment
Directorate: People
Section: Adult Social Care
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 December 2023
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Complete
Comments:
The Adult Social Care customer portal went live on 10 October 2023. Referrals have started to come through directly into the social care system.
The next stage will be to plan the implementation of self-assessment and other processes to promote self service (for example, safeguarding, deprivation of liberty safeguards)
1.03.01 Appraisal of Asset Management Plan
Directorate: Delivery
Section: Property
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 75%
Status: Green
Comments:
Plan is in final draft and awaiting any comments before sign off at asset management board in January.
1.03.03 Review of council’s commercial property assets
Directorate: Delivery
Section: Property
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 85%
Status: Green
Comments:
The council's commercial and investment properties continue to perform well. The number of vacant units remains less than 3%.
1.03.05 Redevelop commercial centre
Directorate: Delivery
Section: Property
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 80%
Status: Green
Comments:
The first phase of the works completed and handed back to the council. Phase 2 works to create the new carpark and demolition the remaining buildings on site started as programmed and are scheduled to be completed at the end of May 2024.
1.04.05 To develop and work on the Asset Management Plan
Directorate: Delivery
Section: Property
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 75%
Status: Green
Comments:
The Draft Council Asset Management Plan has been approved by the Asset Management Board. It is currently under review by the Executive Member.