Council Performance

What are the Council's priorities?

The Oxford Plan sets out our objectives and priorities for the coming three years.

How do the different Council departments work to deliver the Oxford Plan?

The Council is split into 3 directorates. Each directorate has an annual plan which shows how it contributes to the Council's priorities:

Physical Environment

Finance and Corporate Services

Housing, Health and Community

Does the Council monitor its performance?

We are committed to providing high quality services and regularly monitor our performance to ensure we are continuously improving. The Government uses a standard set of performance indicators to measure all councils. These are known as Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs). 

What areas are the Council performing well in?

The BVPI's that we are currently showing improvement in are:

• Processing invoices on time
• Recycling
• Speed in processing benefits
• Council tax collection

What areas are the Council performing not so well in?

The BVPI's that we have not done so well in this year are:

• Sickness absence
• Collecting non domestic rates
• Benefit overpayments recovered

Where can I see all the Council's performance information?

At the end of June each year, we publish our Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP). This looks back at our performance over the last 12 months and sets targets for the year ahead:

Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP) document

Every quarter we report the latest performance information to our Executive Board and Scrutiny Committees:

Year End April 2007 - March 2008
3rd Quarter October - December 2007
2nd Quarter July - September 2007
1st Quarter April - June 2007
1st Quarter Appendix A - Finance and Corporate Services
1st Quarter Appendix A - Housing, Health and Community
1st Quarter Appendix A - Physical Environment
1st Quarter Appendix B - Directors' Commentary

Visit our Performance Report Archive page to see performance reports from previous years.

What is the Council going to focus on?

Every year, our directors choose around 20 performance indicators to really focus on. Please see the current list of our Key Performance Indicators. 

How does Oxford City Council compare to other Local Authorities?

The Audit Commission introduced the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) to measure how Councils deliver services for local people.

You can see how our performance compares against other local authorities on the Audit Commission website.

What has the Council's recent CPA assessments told us?

2004

In 2004, we had a CPA Inspection during which the assessors recognised many good points in our work, but gave us an overall grade of "weak". This was disappointing as we felt our performance had been improving.

2005

In 2005, we demonstrated improvement. The Audit Commission's Annual Audit Letter (2006) recognised this improvement, especially in the following areas:

• The Landlord Services inspection 
• A review of Human Resources management
• The Council's financial position

2006

In 2006, we demonstrated further improvements in a direction of travel report. The Audit Commission's Annual Audit Letter (2007) stated, "Progress against its (the Council's) priorities has become more visible and tangible". 

The report recognised that we had made improvements in several areas including:

• A focus on better services and on reducing inequality through social inclusion resulting in changes that local people would recognize
• Developed a strong commitment to consultation, with staff at all levels focused on improving what matters to the customers
• Young people have better access to leisure, swimming is now free for under 17, there is new play areas and free entry to Council museums
• The planning service improved on national indicators in 2006. The Council lost fewer planning appeals, and improved both its planning website and the overall quality of its service
• Improved focus on reducing and preventing crime and anti-social behaviour. Successful new neighbourhood community safety initiatives including a 24-hour nuisance reporting line; a 'night safe' scheme in entertainment areas; work with pubs and clubs; and extensions of street warden schemes and neighbourhood policing

2007

In 2007, we are pleased with our performance progress during the last four years and are confident that we can demonstrate sustainable improvements for Oxford's citizens. We will be applying for a new CPA grading.

2008

A copy of our most recent Audit and Inspection Letter 2006-07 can be found below.

According to the Audit Commission, "The last year has been one of greater focus and determination for Oxford City Council and the pace of change and improvement has been impressive".

The letter also says that management of the Council has clearly improved. The new management structure is directing resources "to respond more effectively to the future needs of the City". There has been a better focus on value for money, with £3 million of efficiency savings achieved in 2007/08 and a further £3.5 million planned for 2008/09.

Annual Audit and Inspection Letter 2006-07

Page last reviewed 28 Jul 2008

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