Decision details

Purpose of Report: Over the past 4 months, a number of reviews and surveys have been undertaken to provide feedback on how the council is meeting the needs of its residents.

This report provides a consolidated response to the feedback from the LGA Peer Challenge and the Big York Survey. It identifies issues to be addressed and strengths to be built upon. It confirms council priorities and identifies how the council will sharpen its focus, improve consultation processes and shape the delivery of services.

Members are asked to note and approve the feedback received and approve the action plan in response.

Resolved:  i)        That  Cabinet agree to:

·          Establish a new Transformation Programme to prioritise and deliver the Council’s objectives.

·        Confirm their support for the filling of the post of Director of Education, Children’s and Skills on a permanent basis in advance of a wider change process.

·          Establish a repayable budget of £500,000, financed from the Delivery and Innovation Fund (£250,000) and the Venture Fund (£250,000), to finance the Transformation Programme on an Return on Investment of at least £3m pa. Further, to agree to delegate responsibility to the Chief Executive and Director of CBSS to use that budget on transformation resourcing/activity as appropriate.  

·          The first three projects to form the Transformation Programme will be Health & Adult Social Care, Hazel Court Depot Services and Business Efficiency (to include Parking and the projects within the existing Business Support Review – Policy & Performance, Procurement & Commissioning, Facilities Management, Administration & Customer Services)

·          The council working with residents on a new engagement approach to deliver the principles in para 61 of the report.

·          The proposals to undertake a ‘big clean’ of the city in Autumn 2013 and Spring 2014 whilst seeking improvements in day to day service delivery.

·          The Deputy Chief Executive liaising with Health Services in the city to address resident concerns about the availability of health services in York.

ii)            That Cabinet also agree to note:

·     The LGA Peer Review letter at Annex 1 of the report.

·     The principle to co-design and co-deliver the new programme with residents

·          The intention to bring an assessment of the future budget challenges to November Cabinet.

·          The intention to create a new consultation approach (in partnership with residents) and to bring proposals to a future Cabinet meeting.

·          The plans for the Leader to meet residents in every ward in the city.

·          The intention to broaden the budget consultation in 2013

·          The intention to seek support across Group Leaders to revitalise Scrutiny and overview to bring challenge and support to the Council’s work.

Reason: In order to respond to the feedback the Council has received from the LGA Peer Review, Big York Survey and its Staff Survey.