Agenda item

Report of the Head of Chief Executive Office.

Purpose of report

The report provides an overview of the proposed Corporate Performance and Insight Strategy 2026/27, including proposed key performance indicators and annual delivery plan milestones to be reported across the new financial year.

Recommendations

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee resolves:

1.1         To review the new Corporate Performance & Insight Strategy presented in Appendix 1, Key Performance Indicators as proposed in Appendix 2 and provide the Executive Committee with any comments and/or recommendations ahead of their meeting on 7th April 2026.

1.2         To note that the Annual Delivery Plan (ADP) Milestones 2026/27 (as approved as part of the Budget) are included in Appendix 3 for information.

Resolved

(1)          That having given due consideration, the Corporate Performance and Insight Strategy 2026/27 be noted with the following comments to be submitted to the Executive for consideration:

·         That consideration be given to additional performance measures for evaluating the Castle Quay investment, ensuring that social impact, environmental outcomes and growth potential are monitored alongside the existing financial and treasury management indicators.

(2)       That having given due consideration, the Annual Delivery Plan (ADP) Milestones 2026/27 be noted.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Chief Executive Office that provided an overview of the Corporate Performance and Insight Strategy 2026/27, including proposed key performance indicators and annual delivery plan milestones to be reported across the new financial year.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services explained that the report set out a clear framework to link the Corporate Delivery Plan, Annual Delivery Plan and Service plans to move emphasis from reporting metrics in isolation with the aim to provide meaningful evaluation to support decision making and service outcomes.

Members were also advised that the report responded directly to the findings of the 2025 internal audit and performance management framework. A total of 16 Corporate and 28 Directorate performance indicators were proposed with a benchmarking exercise comparing Cherwell’s key performance indicators (KPIs) with those used by potential Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) partners, as well as reflecting recommendations from the Local Government Association to ensure better alignment of decision making for preparations for LGR.

In response to a question regarding the ability of quarterly reporting cycles to efficiently handle emergency situations, the Performance Team Leader explained that work was being carried out to introduce an ongoing performance monitoring structure to work alongside the current reporting cycle, to ensure that measures were in place to help monitor and mitigate any potential issues as they occurred.

In response to a question regarding the inclusion of indicators for tracking climate change, the Performance Team Leader explained that a separate Climate Action Plan was in production that would include dedicated KPIs and actions related to climate change within the district.

In response to a question regarding LGR and its potential impact on the Climate Action Plan, and whether a strategy for solar energy would be at the forefront, the Corporate Director of Communities explained that both the Climate Action Plan and the emerging Solar Strategy were still in draft and yet to be reviewed by the Executive.

In response to a question regarding the time frames allocated to targets and KPI’s, the Performance Team Leader explained that all targets and time frames were discussed with the service line and benchmarked against national targets.

In response to a question regarding a contradiction in the wording regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the district, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services explained that they would liaise with officers to better clarify the wording for future reports.

In response to a question regarding the omission of measured targets for certain KPIs the Performance Team Leader explained that where appropriate figures were displayed as percentages, but the baseline figures were available for officers, and that other targets without measures were in the process of baseline monitoring with the intention for true targets to be included going forward.

In response to a question relating to a recommendation forwarded from the Accounts, Audit and Risk committee regarding the inclusion additional performance indicators relating to the environmental and social value of Castle Quay, members were asked to endorse the recommendation

It was proposed by Councillor Vaitkus and seconded by Councillor Lytton that the recommendations as set out in the report, as well as the additional recommendation relating to the inclusion of further performance indicators in relation to Castle Quay, be included.

Resolved

(1)          That having given due consideration, the Corporate Performance and Insight Strategy 2026/27 be noted with the following comments to be submitted to the Executive for consideration:

·         That consideration be given to additional performance measures for evaluating the Castle Quay investment, ensuring that social impact, environmental outcomes and growth potential are monitored alongside the existing financial and treasury management indicators.

(2)       That having given due consideration, the Annual Delivery Plan (ADP) Milestones 2026/27 be noted.