Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to present the draft Council performance improvement objectives for 2024- 25 and to seek Committee approval to issue these for public consultation, in line with our statutory performance duty obligations.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to agree the draft performance improvement objectives for 2024-25 and, subject to any amendments, approve their issue for public consultation in line with statutory guidance. The proposed improvement objectives for 2024-25 are as follows:

3.0       Main report

            Background

3.1       Members will be aware that the Council has a statutory duty to agree performance improvement objectives and develop an annual performance improvement plan, which must be published by the 30June each year.  The performance improvement plan doesn’t represent everything that the council plans to do but focuses on a small set of key improvement priorities, as informed by the evidence base and engagement feedback.  

3.2       The new performance improvement objectives are aligned to the key themes and priorities identified within the new refresh of the Belfast Agenda and Corporate Plan.  This provides a balanced approach to identifying improvement objectives that contribute to improving services, council functions and the quality of life for residents/ communities.  Members should also note that the council’s strategic and collective partnership commitments to deliver shared city outcomes for the citizens of Belfast and the continuous improvement of internal organisational priorities will continue to be delivered and enhanced as part of the Corporate Plan and the Belfast Agenda.

3.3       We will formally consult on the performance improvement objectives using the online YourSay Belfast platform for a period of 8 weeks and will use a range of other communication methods to raise awareness and encourage participation/ reach e.g., posters located within community centres, leisure centres and libraries, social media related activity, signposting via established networks, for example Community Planning Partners (CPP) and other Council networks.

3.4       A copy of the draft improvement objectives and indicative actions that we propose to deliver during the coming year, have been included in Appendix 1, for illustration purposes.  

            Next Steps

3.5       Councils are legally required to consult on their improvement objectives and to publish a Council Improvement Plan by 30 June each year.  Subject to approval, we will issue the performance improvement objectives for public consultation for a period of 8 weeks. We will continue to work with Departments to firm up the actions, milestones, KPIs and targets, that sit below the improvement objectives. Improvement activity will be reflected within the Corporate Plan, Committee plans, business plans and strategic programmes, where relevant, ensuring that improvement is embedded within our planning and delivery processes. A final report and draft Council Performance Improvement Plan 2024-25 will be brought to the SP&R Committee for ratification and publication in June 2024.

3.6       Financial and Resource Implications

            There are no Financial or Human Resource implications arising directly from this report.  Improvement actions are part of business planning processes.

3.7       Equality or Good Relations Implications/ Rural Needs Assessment

            There are no equality/ good relations or rural needs implications arising directly from this report.”

            During discussion a Member pointed out there were a number of programmes in which the Council was leading the way, particularly in relation to the our people and communities and the our planet improvement objectives and that there were some initiatives, such as the school streets project and the playful streets initiative, which could be included as indicative action under these objectives.

            In response, the Strategic Director indicated that he would look at a means to including these.

            The Committee agreed the draft performance improvement objectives for 2024-25 and, subject to the inclusion of those initiatives regarding school streets and playful streets as indicative actions and approved their issue for public consultation in line with statutory guidance.