Agenda item

Managing Director

The Managing Director submitted a report (previously circulated) and detailed performance scorecard (also previously circulated) providing Members with Quarter 1 Performance Data against key performance indicators for 2018/19.

It was reported that the performance indicators were aligned with key priorities and the majority were used to monitor the Corporate Plan 2017/21.  Many indicators for this Scrutiny Committee were reported annually and quarterly updates were not available.

Details were provided of the 30 indicators that are reported to this Scrutiny Committee, five Culture indicators and 25 Public Health indicators.  The majority of the indicators were reported annually and therefore performance information was not available at Quarter 1.  All the Public Health indicators were reported in line with the Public Health Framework National reporting schedule which means the data is at least one year in arrears or related to aggregate periods.

Particular reference was made to CUL 063 - Number of school pupils participating in the sports development programme which was showing performance better than at Quarter 1 last year, and to CUL 064 - Number of individuals participating in the community sports development programme which was showing performance worse than at Quarter 1 last year and at this stage is unlikely to achieve end-of-year target, however, this indicator I a count and this is an early point in the year with a long way to go to the year end.

In relation to the Public Health Indicators it was reported that four indicators, namely, PBH 016 - Rate of under -18 conceptions, PBH 033 - Prevalence of smoking among persons aged 18 years and over, PBH 054 - Proportion of five year old children free from dental decay and PBH 058 - Age-standardised rate of mortality from all cancers in persons less than 75 years of age per 100,000 population had all achieved performance better than when last reported.

Two Indicators showed performance worse than previously reported, namely, PBH 009 ? Low birth weight of term babies and PBH 048 Rate of chlamydia detection per 100,000 young people aged 15-24.  The Performance Manager alerted Members to the fact that although the figures for these two indicators seemed to show that performance had deteriorated the results for both of these were still statistically similar to that for England.

Particular reference was made to the Public Health Performance Highlight report (also previously circulated) which provided more detailed information about the Public Health indicators and was produced in response to the diversity of information and scale of budgets involved.

Discussion and challenge ensued on CUL 063 Number of school pupils participating in the Sports Development Programme and CUL 064 Number of Individuals participating in in the Community Sports Development Programme, particularly the number of before and after school clubs available to children in Primary Schools; the high number of participants in the Darlington 10k Run and the number of Running Clubs represented both within Darlington and the surrounding areas; and the number of well-attended activities available at Eastbourne Sport Complex which indicated an encouraging and healthy picture.

The Public Health Principal advised Members that the activity at Eastbourne Sports Complex was very visible and affected all schools, however, CUL 063 and CUL 064 were a count and the figure would vary depending of the number of children in the different year groups at schools.  Members were pleased to learn that Darlington was very good at children’s sports and that as a Borough was extremely proactive in the approach to encouraging physical activity and sport in young people in schools and the community.  This investment has been maintained as it is recognised to be an important contributor to ensuring young people grow up healthy in Darlington.  It was also reported that unlike some other local authorities, Darlington has continued to fund a Schools Sports Co-ordinator to work with schools, parents and children in encouraging increased physical activity and participation in grass roots sport.  Darlington should be very proud as an authority to be so proactive in children’s sport.

It was also indicated that these two indicators and the activity that underpins them significantly contributed to the delivery of the Children’s Healthy Weight Plan.  It was noted that Colleges access Eastbourne Sports Complex to teach students to be sports trainers and it was hoped that once qualified these students would stay local.

In relation to PBH 054 – Proportion of five year old children free from dental decay, the Chair reported that this was being considered as part of the Childhood Obesity and Dental Health Care Review Group which had submitted an Interim Report to Cabinet on 11 September 2018.

RESOLVED - (a) That the thanks of Scrutiny Committee be extended to Officers for their comprehensive accounts in relation to Performance Indicators.

(b) That the submitted report be noted.