Issue - meetings

The Director of Finance and Support Services submitted a report setting out revisions to the 2014/15 Data Quality Strategy.  The strategy aimed to improve the provision of local government performance information and so provide improved supporting data on which the Council could make decisions.  Essential Reference Paper “B” of the report now submitted highlighted tracked non material amendments to the Strategy.

The Director of Finance and Support Services advised Members that the report reflected changes to titles and minor changes to ensure that it was “fit for purpose”.  In response to a query from Councillor M Pope, the Director of Finance and Support Services advised that performance information was tracked by Covalent .  When asked if this was the best system available, it was stated that the new Head of Business Development would advise if there were better systems on which the Council could track its performance if there was an appropriate business case to do so. 

Councillor J Wing stated that he felt the strapline “People, Places and Prosperity” to be a confusing classification and suggested that this be removed.  The Director of Finance and Support Services advised that these were the Council’s 3 main priorities included in the Corporate Plan, as determined and agreed by Members.  If Members’ wished to consider changes to those priorities then that should be considered during the annual refresh of the Corporate Plan.

In response to a query from Councillor J Wing, the Chairman reminded Members that the Council aimed to achieve 100% on the Personal Development Review (PDR) process.  The Director of Finance and Support Services explained the process and timeframes and why some services were not achieving 100% returns on their PDRs. 

In response to a query by Councillor D Andrews with regard to dealing with Data Quality issues and whether Officers felt they were able to come forward to admit if a mistake had been made, the Director of Finance and Support Services advised that the Council did not have a blame culture and Officers were encouraged to come forward as soon as possible to fix the problem.  If there was a repeated performance issue, then this would be picked up in the most appropriate way.

The Committee approved the recommendations now detailed.

RESOLVED – that (A) revisions to the Data Quality Strategy, as now submitted and the summary guide, be noted; and

(B)       tracked changes updated in the Strategy as submitted, be approved.