NAC Benchmarking - North Ayrshire

?Council Plan Priority Benchmark NetworkServiceExampleCorporate BenchmarkingAllLocal Government Benchmarking FrameworkFinancial ManagementLGBF is used to benchmark and identify best practice across local authorities, identifying areas of concern or opportunity which can be discussed with services as part of the work on developing our medium and long term financial plans and our transformation strategy. Recently this was used to refine our data collection in relation to Grounds Maintenance to ensure the comparability of LGBF data and allow the service to access more relevant comparator data. Accounts Payable, Housing & Corporate Sustainability, PM&I, Building Services, Roads, Streetscene, WasteThe information is used to understand why variations in cost and performance are occurring, councils work together to ‘drill-down’ into the benchmarking data across service areas. This process has been organised around ‘family groups’ of councils so that we are comparing councils that are similar in terms of the type of population that they serve (e.g. relative deprivation and affluence) and the type of area in which they serve them (e.g. urban, semi-rural, rural). The point of comparing like with like is that this is more likely to lead to useful learning and improvement.The raw data is analysed within the Directorate both in family groups and pan Ayrshire. This forms the basis of a management report which allows senior managers to identify the quartile any particular indicator falls into, the top performer within that indicator allowing a best practice visit to be organised if relevant to our service delivery. The data is also used to proactively work to identify and mitigate any dips in future performance.HSCPThe content is used to review historic data trends, for self-benchmarking and reviewing performance against our comparator family grouping. Having access to the available data has also proved useful in enabling a conversation related to submitted data not been attributed correctly to the National Core Suite of Integration Indicators.Council TaxThe Council is chair of the LGBF family group B for council tax consisting of eight Local Authorities; the group generally meets twice a year and annual events are held by the Improvement Service. The family group has looked at council tax collections levels, cost of collection, debt recovery approaches, contracts and tenders, automation of data, e-billing, water direct, and organisational structures. Benchmarking has helped shape a sheriff officer contract, best practice from automation software and a Corporate Arrears Recovery System (CARS) user group was separately formed to develop best practice. Information & Culture – Libraries, Museums and Leisure ServiceUsed to identify best practice and more cost-effective services. An example was surrounding Fife Council and sharing ways to transfer to trust and the impact whilst we were exploring the option, this led on to working with Perth and Kinross and the sharing of experience.AllCOSLAChief ExecutivesScottish councils co-operate through and are represented collectively by COSLA. By providing a forum to discuss common issues and develop shared agendas, we gather the views of member councils and communicate these to key stakeholders including the Scottish, UK?and European Parliaments.AllSOLACEChief ExecutivesScottish Branch of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (UK). While being an important component of the UK framework, the Branch operates largely independently as the representative body for senior managers working within local government. The Society’s members are drawn from a variety of backgrounds, and while engaging with all major players in Scottish governance at both local and national level, SOLACE Scotland has a unique role to play in offering a corporate view of local government.AllScottish Performance Management ForumDemocratic ServicesThis forum is a meeting between Performance Officers of the various Local Authorities, they discuss different issues such as Public Reporting & LGBF. Ideas and best practice are shared. This has enabled our team to change ideas regarding collecting data.Inspiring PlaceInspiring PlaceAssociation for Public Service Excellence (APSE)Building Services, Roads, Streetscene, Transport, Waste, Facilities ManagementMembers of APSE have access to many excellent benefits that help local authorities to grow. These include regular briefings on the latest policy developments and operational issues, access to groups and forums that allow authorities to come together to share information and collaborate, and the ability to anonymously ask for - and give - advice on a range of service issues. The new Portal in place for 2018/19 will allow managers to look at specific indicators, and as the LGBF allow them to make decisions on best practice visits and allow for proactive work to identify and mitigate any dips in future performance.Inspiring PlaceScottish Housing NetworkHousing & Corporate Sustainability, PM&I, Building ServicesData collection, analysis and reporting of cost and performance information. Results are fed back via our dynamic web tool, allowing organisations to view their current and historical performance in comparison to others. Our benchmarking principles are set out in the European Code of Benchmarking which our members must observe at all time. Practice Exchange Forums Regular meetings of practitioners to examine the key issues highlighted by the benchmarking results and tackling national issues. Self Assessment from a set of workbooks to allow annual self assessment through to consultancy support our range of products help landlords to ensure their services are improving and the way in which they organisation their assessment approach is robust and challenging. In addition to the above the SHN offer many learning events throughout the year and an on site visit to review the performance of the local authority in comparison to others of a similar size. The information is presented to service managers for each of the areas covered, the service managers then identify actions to make improvements and also use the data to proactively identify and mitigate any dips in future performance.Inspiring PlaceScottish Housing RegulatorHousing & Corporate Sustainability, PM&I, Building ServicesIt is responsible for making sure that North Ayrshire Council’s Housing Service continually improves the way they deliver services to tenants and customers. It ensures North Ayrshire Council embeds the requirements of the Scottish Housing Regulator and Scottish Social Housing Charter by monitoring and challenging the set indicators, outcomes and standards. The following presentations and publications are developed with the NAN. The raw data is analysed within the Service the data can be filtered in many variations depending on the results being reviewed. This can lead to best practice visits if relevant to our service deliver. The data is also used to proactively work to identify and mitigate any dips in future performance.Inspiring PlaceSLAED – Economic Indicators FrameworkEconomic Development activitiesWe review it to provide a comparison with similar local authorities across Scotland to help benchmark our relative performance. Inspiring PlaceOffice of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner (OSRWC).RoadsWe use the information to ensure we are meeting our statutory obligations in respect of planning and notifying our works. We have a statutory obligation to co-ordinate all road works in our area.Inspiring PlaceWaste Managers NetworkWasteThe Waste Managers Network liaise with CoSLA regarding the direction of national waste management policy, influencing beneficial changes where possible. The benchmarking information received from the Waste Managers Network is used to identify potential opportunities for service improvement and transformation. Information regarding Best Practice from other councils was considered during the development of the Zero Waste Strategy 2018-2022.Aspiring CommunitiesAspiring CommunitiesInsight - Benchmarking for ExcellenceEarly Years/ SchoolsUsed to inform policy decision making in relation to ensuring there is no poverty of aspiration, opportunity or ambition for any young person in North Ayrshire. The ‘Improving Attainment for All’ Insight measure enabled the Education service to recognise a need to provide more challenging opportunities for all young people in North Ayrshire, stretching the performance and widening the opportunities of each and every pupil, according to their individual ambitions and abilities. As a result, the use of the Insight tool has contributed towards improving North Ayrshire school performance levels.Aspiring CommunitiesADES resources network Early Years/ SchoolsThe ADES resources network is a national forum that focusses on infrastructure and resources matters across Education. For example, the Education Service has benefitted from sharing and receiving examples of good practice with representatives from other local authorities on topics including both Statutory Public Consultation process and approaches towards undertaking Staffing Formulas. Examples of positive impact for the Education Service from being involved in the network include agreeing the criteria for new pathfinder projects with other local authorities; accessing the new Learning Estate Strategy Funding and reviewing/ standardising Statutory Public Consultation processes.Aspiring CommunitiesADES personnel network Early Years/ SchoolsBeing involved in the ADES Personnel network has allowed the North Ayrshire Education Service to benchmark and share practice with other Council’s through both networking and the network’s Knowledge Hub. At a time of significant change within the sector, including changes to staff across Council’s, this involvement has been invaluable to employees supporting personnel matters within the education service. The impact of this network is in creating a collective voice to shape thinking at a national level whilst providing a forum for sharing good practice across the education sector.Aspiring CommunitiesAssociation of Public Libraries ScotlandInformation & Culture - LibrariesUsed in in collaboration on the Public Library Improvement Fund applications, development of a joint specification and procurement for library management system and digital programmes such as the roll-out of public wi-fi in libraries.Aspiring CommunitiesScottish Consortium of Public LibrariesInformation & Culture - LibrariesThis group meet regularly at operational level and a couple of times each year to develop procurement strategy. The development of a joint specification and procurement of a library management systems has resulted in a single system providing services to over 60% of the Scottish population, as well as financial savings. It is not a shared system, although it has the potential to be. There is access to greater technical expertise through partnership in the larger authorities. A digital magazine procurement followed, although this has since been superseded by Scotland Excel framework. The partnership is now 10 library services and a mix of trusts and local authorities.Aspiring CommunitiesABC Benchmarking GroupInformation & Culture - LibrariesUsed to look at the role of volunteers and library events such as Bookbug. Although this is a scrutiny of metrics, it always widens to discussions of operational value and meets a couple of times a year. The services involved are not all in the LGBF’s family group but a voluntary group of those who were particularly interested in benchmarking.Aspiring CommunitiesCommunity learning and Developmental Managers ForumCommunity Learning and DevelopmentThe CLD Managers, meets both at a Regional Collaborative level and also at a national level. Participation in these forums, enables CLD national agendas and drivers to be discussed, addressed and planned for. In terms of the RIC (Regional Improvement Collaborative) network the forum enables Education Scotland and CLD standards council to meet with the 4 SWIC (South West Improvement Collaborative) authorities and approach joint planning and delivery of training from a best value approach. We are able to address practitioner training needs from a shared resource perspective, bench mark performance management information and ensure that NAC maintains its national reputation in terms of HMIE.Aspiring CommunitiesSouth West Education Improvement CollaborativeEarly Years/ Schools and Community Learning and DevelopmentThe South West Education Improvement Collaborative (SWEIC) approach is based on building capacity to lead learning at all levels and investing trust in the professional autonomy of headteachers and teachers. The Education Service’s participation in the Early years related workstreams has aided the services’ aim of maintaining high quality experiences for children while delivering the 1140 hours provision. For example, this includes being involved in the ongoing work of the SWEIC that aims to identify, promote and share good practice across the partners, as well as identifying better ways to measure the impact of early intervention strategies.Aspiring CommunitiesADES: Early Years NetworkEarly Years/ SchoolsThe Education Service participated in the sharing of knowledge regarding the 1140 early learning & childcare expansion programme. This involvement allowed the service to understand both the national and regional landscape (successes and challenges across authorities) as well as enabling the Education Service to develop its own thinking and approaches towards the 1140 early learning & childcare expansion programme. As a result, greater professional dialogue is providing essential clarity on what is expected and required of all early learning and childcare providers across North Ayrshire to meet the needs of Scottish Government guidelines regarding the 1140 early learning & childcare expansion programme. Aspiring CommunitiesScottish Government: Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Partnership ForumEarly Years/ SchoolsThe Education Service has participated in sharing a range of knowledge and expertise in developing positive relationships with funded providers. This involvement had included presenting at the national forum to share examples of good practice taking place in North Ayrshire. This involvement has enabled the Education Service to discuss areas of shared interest and concern in relation to the ELC expansion with a range of partners (from ELC providers, local authorities, the Scottish Government and COSLA).Aspiring CommunitiesADES: Performance Improvement NetworkEarly Years/ SchoolsThe ADES PIN Network is a national forum that focusses on performance and improvement issues within the Education sector. The Education Service has benefited from sharing and receiving examples of good practice with representatives from other local authorities on topics including the use of the Insight Benchmarking tool and the BGE Benchmarking tool.Aspiring CommunitiesADES: Curriculum & QualificationsEarly Years/ SchoolsThe ADES Curriculum & Qualifications focuses on discussion regarding national issues around the Curriculum & SQA Qualifications. The key focus here is the examination of SQA data, and for the Education Service to maintain a knowledge and understanding of how this impact upon the ways in which the curriculum has to be delivered. A positive impact for the Education Service from this involvement has been that the secondary schools are now able to review their curriculum in individual subjects following key information being disseminated to schools on performance in national qualifications. Aspiring CommunitiesAssociation of Support for Learning OfficersEarly Years/ SchoolsThe Education Service has participated in network discussions relating to improving the quality of its Additional Support Needs (ASN) service. This has enabled relevant officers within the service to identify and share best practice with other authorities in relation to how the service best approaches its relevant policies and procedures. This network involvement has had a positive impact, allowing for the Education Service to crucially build and revise its approaches towards supporting children requiring targeted interventions. Aspiring CommunitiesCommunity Council Liaison Officer GroupCommittee and Member ServicesOpportunity to receive updates from the Improvement Service & share good practice on topics such as GDPR for community councils.A Council for the Future A Council for the FutureSolar Executive: Groups including - Best Practice and Benchmarking, Child Care, Community Care, Conveyancing, Property and Infrastructure, Education Law, Elections, Employment Law, FOI, Data Protection & Human Rights, Governance, Health & Social Care Integration, Licensing, Monitoring Officers, Planning & Environmental Law, Procurement, Anti Social Behaviour & HousingDemocratic Services, Legal ServicesSolicitors and Managers within Legal attend various Solar Working Groups on a regular basis. This enables the sharing of knowledge and best practice. Forthcoming changes in legislation are discussed and procedures formulated. Attendance at the Solar executive means that we are involved in consultation processes with Government COSLA & SOLACE.Engagement with SOLAR can result in streamlining of work done by each individual Council by adopting a shared approach which avoids duplication of effort. This approach is currently in play with regard to the current Public Inquiry on Child Abuse.A Council for the FutureLaw Society of ScotlandLegal and LicensingThis is the Regulatory Body for all solicitors. As well as regulation and registration training courses can be providedA Council for the FutureChartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) CIPFA statsFinancial Management, Information & CultureUsed for best practice and cost-effective services. Provides detailed activities per 1,000 population, which is used in a number of ways, for example setting staffing levels.A Council for the FutureChartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountability (CIPFA) - Value for moneyPayrollWithin Payroll, we have extended the use of the CIPFA benchmarking measures for our own internal purposes. We use the measure quarterly to test the performance of both our payroll team and quality and timeliness of the information provided by the Services. The information we collate allows us feedback to Services on how to improve their performance if required, ensure deadlines are known, this information is discussed at our quarterly working together meetings held by the Payroll Lead Adviser and Service Senior Managers. It enables the payroll team to work in partnership with Services to review and improve processes ensuring that our customer experience is always being enhanced. Furthermore, the information supports general business improvement within the Payroll Team and team members development plans.A Council for the FutureChartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountability (CIPFA) - communityCouncil TaxAn annual return is provided to CIPFA relating to a number of Revenues and Benefits performance indicators. The data is used to compare the Council's performance to all other Scottish Councils and provides a ranking. The data and ranking has been used in operational plans to set targets and to improve performance. A Council for the FutureScotland Excel, Centre of expertise for the local authority networkProcurementCorporate Procurement was assessed by a team from Scotland Excel in December 2018 and as a result of a number of improvements which had been introduced, enhanced and embedded in recent years our PCIP score increased from 68% to 77% which was an excellent outcomeA Council for the FutureLA Complaint Handler NetworkCorporate Complaints (Council wide and not Service specific)It has enabled us to create a standard set of complaint performance indicators were agreed (in conjunction with all 32 local authorities and the SPSO) allowing us to see if an issue is a complaint or not. Our complaint recording system with other Councils and made some improvements to our Lagan system and reporting as a result. Our internet complaint pages were revamped with additional content. A standard set of complaint handling satisfaction survey questions is currently being developed. A standard set of complaint topics is currently being developed.A Council for the FutureThe Public Sector Ombudsman Sounding BoardDemocratic ServicesMembers include chief executives, Ombudsman contact officers, monitoring officers, the WLGA and representatives from various local authority departments such as planning and development; social services; children & young people and environment. Discussions take place on a variety of topics. A Council for the FutureWest of Scotland Regional Resilience Partnership (WOSRRP)Civil Contingencies?Members work together to plan, respond and recover from emergencies.A Council for the FutureAyrshire Local Resilience Partnership (LRP)Civil Contingencies?Members work together to plan, respond and recover from emergencies.A Council for the FutureNational Communications GroupCommunicationsUsed to allow Local Authority communication managers across Scotland to discuss current issues and areas of commonality with a view to sharing best practice and in some cases recourses such as marketing collateral. It allows us to co-ordinate localised campaign planning with national organisations such as COSLA and the Scottish Government who regularly attend these meetings. Research is also shared which is incorporated into driving services improvements within the communications team. This has been particularly useful in the field of internal communications.A Council for the FutureGovernance Working GroupCommittee and Member ServicesValuable opportunity to share information and advice on good practice. Serves as a sounding board.A Council for the FutureScottish Licensing Law & PracticeLegalValue in terms of focus on changes and best practice. Trade organisations are also involved in this and it proves a valuable link for engagement with customers.A Council for the FutureInformation and Records Management SocietyInformation GovernanceThis is used as an information sharing and best practice forum. Has not changed the way the Service is delivered however provides helpful resources and networking opportunities for knowledge sharing, particularly in relation to O365 and SharePoint.A Council for the FutureRecords Management Pan Ayrshire GroupInformation GovernanceThis is predominantly used for information/knowledge sharing. Has resulted in establishing communication routes for retention queries which is beneficial to the work undertaken at Records Management Unit. A Council for the FutureNational Records of Scotland PRSA SurgeryInformation GovernanceThis is a new forum and will be attending for the first time in October 2019.A Council for the FutureBenchmarking Council Tax, Sundry Debtors, Benefits and CreditorsRevenues and BenefitsThis is a new benchmarking group with West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire. The Council has provided benchmarking data for 2018/19 and estimates for 2019/20. The group has not met collectively but the data allows comparisons to be made across a range of areas; this includes council tax and a meeting has been arranged with West Dunbartonshire to discuss their improved council tax collection levels. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download