Decision details

Purpose of Report

To present to Executive the strategic performance measure targets for 2025/26 for final approval.

Decision

That the strategic performance measures and their targets for 2025/26, as set out within Appendix A to the officer’s report, be approved.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reasons for the Decision

Performance measure targets were reviewed on an annual basis This ensured the measures being reported to senior management and members on a quarterly basis continued to provide a clear picture of the council’s service area performance. Additionally, all performance measure targets were reviewed annually to ensure the targets remained achievable but suitably challenging.

Target setting for 2025/26 had focused largely on the analysis of the council’s performance outturn trend over recent quarters/years, alongside the expected impacts over the coming year. Benchmarking data had been used by service areas in this process, however, the availability of this data was limited due to local authorities reporting on the measures most relevant to their own authority and services, rather than there currently being a requirement for all local authorities to report on all measures in the same way.

As with previous years, some measures had seen their targets relaxed due to increasing financial pressures on the council, resource impacts, recruitment pressures and the cost-of-living crisis, all of which would inevitably continue to impact on performance. However, in some cases the targets had been made more stretching where some improvement in performance was expected.

The proposed measures were presented to Performance Scrutiny Committee for feedback on 13 March 2025. There were a couple of clarification questions asked on customer services and Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour and these were answered satisfactorily in the meeting.

Performance measures and targets were also reviewed with Portfolio Holders.

The performance measures, their high and low targets and details of the removed/new measures for 2025/26 were provided at Appendix A of the report.

Those measures performing above or below target were highlighted within a quarterly Operational Performance Report as success stories or measures of concern requiring monitoring action.