Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009 - 2010

October 2010 County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 02 For a copy of this document in large print, Braille, audio tape or an alternative language please contact Jackie Meskimmon on 01437 776613

Index

For further information please contact: Foreword ...... 03 1. Introduction ...... 04 Ben Pykett 2. Improvement activity ...... 05 Head of Policy and Performance Pembrokeshire County Council 3. Finance and spending ...... 15 County Hall 4. Performance analysis ...... 17 5. Joint working ...... 34 Pembrokeshire SA61 1TP 6. Planning for the future ...... 36 Glossary ...... 37 Tel: 01437 775856 [email protected]

www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 03

highest levels of unemployment for nearly a decade. The true state of Foreword the nation’s public finances became clear and it is now obvious that we will be feeling the impact for many years to come. We also I am pleased to introduce Pembrokeshire County Council’s Improvement experienced some of the harshest winter conditions for many years, Review for 2009 – 2010. saw one of our principal service delivery partners – the health service – restructured and spent a considerable amount of time planning for a This review describes the progress we have made during the previous potential flu pandemic. financial year. It is one of the ways we are accountable to you, both as taxpayers and as users of the services we provide. Against this difficult backdrop, however, we have continued to improve – both as an organisation and as a service provider. Our achievements The production of this review marks a departure from previous have been recognised by independent bodies like the Audit arrangements, whereby we were required to publish an annual Office. While this is gratifying, what really matters is what you think of Corporate and Improvement Plan. Under the new reporting framework us. We serve you and we will continue to work as hard as we can to we are duty bound to produce two plans each year. We published the improve the lives of everyone in Pembrokeshire. first of these documents, a forward looking Improvement Plan for 2010 – 2011, in May. This is the second document that we will publish this year; it looks back on our achievements during 2009 – 2010.

The change reflects the Welsh Assembly Government’s renewed focus on improvement, efficiency and collaboration. These themes are consistent with the principles that have always been important to us as an organisation – customer focus, providing value for money and working as one team. We also have an excellent track record of working with other organisations. Some of the notable achievements we have made in this area are highlighted in this document. Cllr. John Davies Leader, Pembrokeshire County Council We faced a number of significant challenges during 2009 – 10. The global economic downturn resulted in Pembrokeshire experiencing its Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 04 1. Introduction

1.1 This review looks back on our performance during 2009 – 2010. 1.5 At both the national and the local level there has been an increasing Though we have a formal duty to publish this review, the process emphasis on collaborative working between different service of analysing our achievements is critical to the way in which we providers. Working with other organisations helps us to deliver plan and deliver our services. better outcomes for the people we serve and assists us in our efforts to maintain services while reducing our expenditure. 1.2 This year’s review is somewhat complicated by the regulations Chapter 5 highlights the significant progress we have made in under which it has been published. The document addresses relation to joint working during 2009 – 2010. commitments that we made in our 2009 – 2010 Corporate and Improvement Plan. However, it also reflects the change in emphasis signalled by the release of our new Improvement Plan (published in May this year). For this reason we have grouped the achievements identified in Chapter 2 around the broad themes that we adopted in our new plan.

1.3 Chapter 3 provides a brief summary of our spending during 2009 – 2010. More detailed information is available in the form of our Statement of Accounts, which is available on our website (www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk).

1.4 Chapter 4 looks in more detail at some of the performance data we use to monitor our services. It tracks how our performance has changed over time and draws comparisons with other local authorities in Wales. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 05

in November 2009, confirmed that we had performed well overall 2. Improvement activity during 2008 – 2009. In addition, in June this year the WAO published a forward looking assessment of our likelihood to 2.1 This chapter highlights some of our more significant achievements improve; the assessment concluded that we are well placed to deal during 2009 – 2010. We have grouped the information provided with future challenges. around the eight themes identified in the Pembrokeshire Community Plan 2010 – 2025 and our Improvement Plan 2010 – 2.4 Last year was the final year of the Improvement Agreement we 2011. These are: were required to negotiate with the Welsh Assembly Government. The Agreement consisted of a series of testing improvement • Well-being challenges across ten service areas; we needed to demonstrate • Environment improvement in each area to receive a substantial Performance • Economy Improvement Grant. We established a robust and transparent • Community performance framework for the Agreement which included 34 key • Housing actions and 14 key performance indicators. Our final return is • Learning currently with the WAO; the initial feedback we have received • Access suggests we have demonstrated satisfactory improvement and are • Safety likely to receive the full Performance Improvement Grant.

2.2 The examples that follow focus on the services we deliver to you, 2.5 Well-being – Almost all of the services we deliver have some sort our customers. However, we have also achieved some noticeable of impact on well-being. By making improvements in these services successes as an organisation this year. For example, we retained we aim to improve the health of Pembrokeshire’s population, by Investor in People status following an inspection during the promoting healthy eating and exercise, for example, or by autumn. This is the third time we have retained the accreditation. improving our social care services. The award recognises our approach to training and developing our staff. 2.6 During 2009 – 2010, we worked with Public Health Wales to investigate an outbreak of a serious bacterial disease (E Coli 0157) 2.3 Each year the Wales Audit Office (WAO) – the body appointed by at a dance camp in Pembrokeshire. As part of the investigation we the Welsh Assembly Government to oversee the activities of all made over 200 phone calls and sent over 300 advisory emails to local authorities in Wales – issues a formal assessment of our people who had attended the event. performance. The WAO’s most recent progress report, published Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 06

2.7 We continued to enforce high food standards across 2.11 During 2009 – 2010 we submitted a successful bid to the Future Pembrokeshire, undertaking 1,225 food inspections. We also Jobs Fund. As a result we established 160 six month made progress towards implementing the Scores on the Doors work-placements for young people who have been unemployed programme, which will provide customers with more direct access for more than a year. The scheme started in September 2009 and to information about food outlets in Pembrokeshire. to date 140 young people have found employment.

2.8 We continued to improve our services to help people stay active 2.12 Providing care to vulnerable people is one of our most important and worked hard to reduce their cost. We started building a new responsibilities. We took action during 2009 - 2010 to improve the sports centre in St Davids during the summer of 2009. The new way we support people with chronic conditions. The complex care facility will offer a wider range of activities than was previously teams we established brought health and social care workers available. In addition we have continued to improve take-up of the together to reduce duplication, keep repeat visits to a minimum school sports services we offer. Over 50% of Pembrokeshire’s and keep our services focused on the needs of individual young people now participate in sports clubs on a weekly basis – customers. This approach is currently being tested in the north this is the highest rate of any local authority in Wales . east of Pembrokeshire but will be rolled out to the rest of the County in due course. 2.9 The GP Referral and Cardiac Rehabilitation scheme we established – which gives people with heart conditions access to our leisure 2.13 Another important development in this area will be the extra care centres “on prescription” – received 492 referrals during 2009 – and health centre we plan to establish in Crymych. We are working 2010; almost three times the number we were expecting. Just in partnership on this project with the Family Housing Association under half of those referred completed the 16 week course and and Hywel Dda Health Board. We are close to finalising negotiations committed to continue taking exercise. on a site for the scheme and we anticipate that construction work will commence during the summer of 2011. The new scheme will 2.10 We continued to manage the Pembrokeshire Family Challenge bring social care and health services together under the same roof, project, which provides advice and support relating to physical which will be much more convenient for our customers. activity, nutrition and play. We evaluated the scheme during the spring of 2010; the results were very positive. Three quarters of 2.14 We also improved the way we provide reablement services across children who participate in the scheme now eat more healthily, Pembrokeshire. During the last year we established a reablement while 80% take more exercise. The results for adults were just as implementation group to improve the consistency of our services. impressive; 84% of participants stated they had achieved all or We also refined our plans to move long term users of our in-house most of what they hoped, and 91% indicated they would maintain domiciliary care services to the private sector, thereby increasing changes to their lifestyle. our capacity to provide these types of service. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 07

2.15 Environment – One of the biggest challenges we face both now 2.19 We completed coastal defence works to the historic sea wall at and into the future is how we respond to climate change. Our Brunel Quay in . We also secured £561k of funding for approach to this has been to incorporate carbon-saving features flood alleviation work at Newport and at Goodwick. This funding into the design of new buildings and services. Pembrokeshire also has come from the European Union and the Welsh Assembly has an outstanding natural environment and we are committed to Government. In addition, we completed strategic flooding protect and enhance this for future generations. consequence studies of Haverfordwest, the results of which have helped to inform the preparation of our emerging Local 2.16 We continued to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we Development Plan and other relevant planning policy documents. produce, exceeding our target for 2010 – 2011. Our non-domestic buildings now produce 13% less carbon dioxide than they did in 2.20 Improving the way in which we deal with waste is an important 2003. This has been achieved through a range of measures goal in its own right and it also helps to reduce greenhouse gas including a micro-combined heat and power scheme at a new emissions. During 2009 – 2010 we made considerable progress in school, by using solar and photovoltaic panels and by using bringing forward longer-term solutions for dealing with waste that heating controls more effectively. cannot be composted, re-used or recycled. We are in the process of issuing a tender for an anaerobic digester that will serve our 2.17 We also continued to develop our proposals to turn off street region. The digester will convert the cooked food waste, which lights between midnight and 5:30am, which will result in savings previously would have gone into landfill, into compost and gas of around £200k per year. We consulted upon our plans, which can be used to generate heat or energy. determined in which areas street lights would need to be left on and installed the timing devices required to implement the switch 2.21 We achieved an overall recycling and composting rate of 41% on off. The switch off will be introduced during the forthcoming year. 2009 – 2010, up 8% points over the year. By comparison only half of all local authorities in Wales hit the Assembly Government’s 2.18 As part of our work to reduce the impact of climate change, we recycling and composting target of 40%. We were successful continued to work with other local authorities in Wales to develop because we continued to promote recycling and composting the second generation of Shoreline Management Plans for services. We will make further improvements during 2010 – 2011 Pembrokeshire. This plan will help to guide future investment in such as rolling out separate food waste collection across the the County. County. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 08

2.22 A related service we offer is bulky waste collection. We work with focus has been on broadening Pembrokeshire’s economic base a local social enterprise, FRAME, to provide this service. FRAME and encouraging added value activity. carry out the collections on our behalf and then restore items of unwanted furniture and sort them for re-use or recycling. This 2.26 We were successful in attracting a number of new tenants to the innovative arrangement won the Best Partnership category in the Pembrokeshire Technium during the year. Six units are now Resource Awards announced in London last year. The project was occupied in the complex, which offers office and workshop also recognised as the best Local Authority Partnership in Wales accommodation together with business and technical support for at the annual Recycling Awards. new innovative businesses.

2.23 Many of our services protect and enhance the natural 2.27 We also made good progress in helping to develop the marine environment. Pembrokeshire has an iconic coastline which we renewable energy sector. Pembrokeshire is well placed to help to protect by ensuring that adequate water quality standards become a centre of excellence in this area, which is not only are maintained. Pembrokeshire was awarded 10 Blue Flag status environmentally friendly, but has excellent long term prospects. and 16 Green Coast Awards during 2009 – 2010, reflecting the Four separate projects to harness wave and tidal power are being quality of water around our coast. developed at various points along Pembrokeshire’s coastline.

2.24 We also introduced new safeguards to protect Pembrokeshire’s 2.28 Unemployment increased last year. We helped to organise jobs historic and architectural heritage during 2010 - 2011. By applying fairs advertising the opportunities arising from the construction of an Article 4 Direction to the historic core of we Pembroke power station. We estimate that we assisted in the have helped to ensure that any alterations or developments in this creation of around 500 new jobs in this area during 2009 – 2010. area are carried out sympathetically. In addition, we renovated a medieval section of Tenby's town walls, carried out by specialist 2.29 The development of marinas in key locations offers an opportunity contractors and part funded by CADW. to enhance existing ports, increase the value that tourism brings into the County and to extend the tourism season. We continued 2.25 Economy – Our work to support the economy in Pembrokeshire to work with a range of partners to bring forward proposals for a is wide-ranging. We have always focused our efforts on helping marina in Pembroke Dock. We also worked hard to secure the to create an environment that is attractive to business, by offering development of Fishguard harbour. advice, acting as an advocate for the County and by providing appropriate infrastructure. A vibrant local economy and high levels of employment are critical to an overall sense of well-being. Our Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 09

2.30 One of the actions that we took to support the agricultural sector 2.34 Finally, we undertook a range of projects to improve in Pembrokeshire during 2009 – 2010 was to help with the launch Pembrokeshire’s town centres during the year. Our two of a local food sourcing and delivery service; Pembrokeshire Townscape Heritage Initiatives schemes in Haverfordwest and Produce Direct. The service offers 1,000 different sorts of produce Pembroke Dock increased the availability of high quality ground from a co-operative of around 50 different producers. floor commercial space, as well as new residential units. Neptune's Army of Rubbish Cleaners was just one of the many 2.31 We also helped to support Pembrokeshire Fish Week. The event volunteer groups that pitched in during the week-long Tidy Towns is in its tenth year in June 2009 with approximately 14,000 people initiative in Haverfordwest. The group scoured the River Cleddau attending the opening day. This event has grown substantially bringing dumped rubbish to the surface. Their tally included four over the years and is now a major attraction. This year it won the rusting shopping trolleys, two children's scooters, the side of a True Taste Food Tourism destination award. telephone box and numerous pint glasses.

2.32 We were part of a consortium that successfully bid for a Flexible 2.35 Community – Earlier this year we published a new Community Plan Support for Business contract. This is part funded from the for Pembrokeshire. The previous Community Plan had reached the European Union Convergence Programme and it operates right point where it needed to be renewed and we spent a considerable across West Wales. It provides a comprehensive information and amount of time working with partners to draft the new plan. The signposting service for all types of business. The project has plan sets out a long term vision for the County and establishes the exceeded its targets for the year and has received very positive framework for a number of other important strategies, such as feedback from its clients. The local delivery of the project is part those concerning health and social care, children and young of our local businesses hub. This makes it easier for firms to get people’s services and community safety issues. the information they need on a range of issues such as grants and 2.36 We also continued our work on a new Local Development Plan planning. (LDP). The LDP is the document that sets out the policies and proposals that will guide the development and use of land for the 2.33 Pembrokeshire played host to two major film productions last period 2011 – 2021. It will have a major impact on the way that year. Whilst it is difficult to quantify, we estimate the value to the Pembrokeshire’s communities evolve in the future. During 2009 – County as being in the region of £5m. Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood 2010 we consulted on the Preferred Strategy. The deposit plan is and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows film were both filmed at due to be considered by the Council later this year. Though . Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) are producing a separate LDP we are working together to ensure that the plans complement one another. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 10

2.37 We expanded our Good Neighbour Scheme during the year; there establish the COASTAL project, which provides vocational are now six active schemes in the County. The scheme helps support and guidance to people with serious illnesses, a disability communities to cater for their own needs by sharing advice, or substance misuse problems. The project is part of a larger providing referrals to service providers, organising luncheon clubs project led by Swansea City Council and is part funded by the or transport, arranging home help or the collection of European Social Fund. prescriptions. When surveyed 75% of people who used the scheme agreed it had been of benefit to them; 89% agreed the 2.41 We continued to invest in community facilities during the year. We scheme had been of benefit to their community. The scheme has undertook significant refurbishments of our libraries in Narberth also led to a reduction in the fear of crime in the communities in and Newport and relocated our library in Milford Haven, which it operates. establishing a brand new facility on a new site.

2.38 We and our partners in other local authorities and the voluntary 2.42 In partnership with the Church and Hall Committee, sector secured funding through the European Union Convergence we supported the successful completion of a small refurbishment Programme for the Collaborative Communities project. This will to the Hall. The Probation Service and the Prince’s Trust enable voluntary and community organisations in the County to supported the work through their rehabilitation and education move towards greater stability. The project works by helping programmes. It is anticipated the use of the hall will increase voluntary organisations to adopt a more commercially focused following the renovation. The Committee are now identifying approach and become social enterprises. further projects that will encourage greater participation.

2.39 One example of such an enterprise is FRAME. Working with 2.43 Housing – Housing continues to be an important issue in FRAME we established the BlueSkys Project at Scolton Manor Pembrokeshire. During 2009 – 2010 we worked with near Haverfordwest. The project provides horticultural training for Pembrokeshire Housing Association to bring forward 78 people who may be socially disadvantaged or living with a affordable homes (72 units in our planning area and a further 6 in disability. Participants are currently preparing a section of the the National Park). By contrast, only four were sold through the Manor House's walled garden to grow flowers and vegetables. right to buy. We also finalised seven planning obligation The next stage of the project will see the opening of a dedicated agreements during the year which will result in 111 further sales outlet at the site. affordable homes being built when the schemes are implemented.

2.40 During 2009 – 2010 we promoted social cohesion by providing support services to people who are out of work. We helped to Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 11

2.44 Together with PCNPA we published an interim policy on 2.48 We also extended the federation we have established in affordable housing. The joint affordable housing delivery Haverfordwest to include the schools in St Davids and Fishguard. statement will help us to negotiate higher proportions of The schools and Pembrokeshire College collaborate on affordable housing when planning permission is granted. The timetabling and the curriculum; this enables a broader range of implementation of the statement was phased to take account of subjects to be offered. The schools in Pembroke, Tenby and the uncertain economic situation and to ensuring development Milford Haven and Pembrokeshire College operate a similar was not discouraged. arrangement in the south of the County.

2.45 In order to make the best use of our stock, we reviewed the 2.49 We invested £7.36 million of capital in our schools during the year, processes we use to re-let council housing in order to reduce the taking our total investment to £115 million since 1996. Facilities time that homes stand empty. The total number of days on which opened recently include a new special school secondary unit for properties were empty fell by 6.4% over the year. 55 pupils and 12 new classrooms across the County. We also funded smaller scale improvements at over 30 other sites. 2.46 The quality of housing we provide is also important. We continued to make progress towards achieving the Welsh 2.50 We are modernising the way education is delivered, especially the Housing Quality Standard throughout the year (we are the only role Information Technology can play in providing additional local authority likely to meet this target). We are confident we will learning resources in a flexible way. We continued to develop the meet requirements to have successfully improved windows, Pembrokeshire Education Portal during 2010 – 2011. All schools, insulation, heating, wiring, and kitchens in over 6,000 properties staff and pupils are able to access the Portal, as well as staff from by 2012. The vast majority of homes have been insulated and key partners such as Pembrokeshire College, -Powys have new heating systems and over 3,500 have had new kitchens. Police, Hywel Dda Local Health Board and the Pembrokeshire Learning Network. Shared and personal sites now number 2.47 Learning – Education and learning have always been high on our approximately 5,000. list of priorities. Promoting high skills levels supports the economy by creating a more qualified workforce. Ensuring that all people 2.51 Providing good quality information for parents is an important have the chance to reach their potential is important in helping to element of the service we provide. During 2009 – 2010 we tackle inequality. During the year we improved the way in which improved our admissions arrangements and published a new we teach literacy and basic skills in our schools; we increased information booklet for parents. Once again we recorded very few whole school support for literacy and organised a series of appeals; the vast majority of parents are satisfied with the conferences to share best practice. standards in their local school. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 12

2.52 We introduced new mechanisms to reduce inequalities in transport projects in Pembrokeshire. We were also successful in attainment. We established multi-agency teams to work with arguing that Haverfordwest should have sustainable town status children and young people who have additional needs. All and received an additional £250,000 as a result. secondary pupils and some primary school pupils are now able to access a confidential counselling service. 2.57 We made good progress on the southern strategic route, linking the A477 through Pembroke to the new power station. Some 2.53 Last year saw the end of the RAISE programme. The programme smaller sections were constructed and much of the design work provided funding to close the gap in attainment between more for larger and more complex sections, such as the Maidenwells deprived communities and the rest of Pembrokeshire. The by-pass, was completed. scheme has been a success and has led to the sharing of good practice and a stronger focus on reducing differences in 2.58 Improving access to the countryside helps local people and attainment across the County. visitors make the most of what Pembrokeshire has to offer. We completed a key section of the north – south multi-user trail 2.54 Getting the transition from school to work right makes a big across Pembrokeshire with funding from the Welsh Assembly difference to young people’s life chances. In 2009 – 2010 we were Government and the European Union Rural Development Plan. able to support more 16 year olds to stay in education, training or The section runs from Templeton to Blackpool Mill. In addition, employment. As a result, the number of young people who were with the help of the Ministry of Defence, we developed a new not in education, employment or training fell from 102 to 72 during circular route at Templeton Airfield. the year. 2.59 Similarly we used funding from the Environment Agency Wales 2.55 Finally, we continued to improve our adult learning provision. (EAW) to improve access to the water by organising 10 beach Thirty-eight percent of our schools now host adult learning days during the year. The sessions were a great success with a activities. The attainment level for our English for Speakers of total of 470 children attending. We also continued to support the Other Languages courses is now 95% – this is the highest score innovative Havenlink water bus service that operates in the Milford we have ever achieved. Haven waterway.

2.56 Access – Pembrokeshire is relatively remote and there is a need 2.60 As well as helping to support public transport, we also work with to improve communication links, to, from and within the County. others to develop innovative solutions to access problems. Earlier We achieved a number of successes in this area during 2009 – this year we were awarded a major community transport award – 2010. For example, we agreed the Regional Transport Plan with the Partner of the Year award from the Community Transport our neighbouring authorities and secured £850,000 to fund Association Wales. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 13

2.61 We are responsible for a substantial network of roads, bridges 2.65 During 2009 – 2010 the Home Office inspected the work we do in and rights of way, all of which need regular maintenance, partnership with those agencies responsible for managing prolific particularly during period of inclement weather. Last year was offenders. The Home Office Crime Team for Wales presented a particularly tough. Heavy rain in the autumn led to 800 call outs to very positive picture and highlighted many areas of best practice. deal with incidents of flooding on Pembrokeshire’s highways. Our Pembrokeshire also performs strongly in terms of rates of maintenance teams were then kept very busy clearing snow and reoffending. Performance figures for the year ending March 2010 ice during one of the hardest winters in living memory. They show a reduction in proven offences by our cohort of prolific responded to 2,700 call outs, working over 6,000 hours and offenders of 41%; significantly better than the Wales average of gritting 35,000 miles of roads. We also helped to free 150 29%. stranded motorists. 2.66 Our Youth Offending Team significantly improved its performance 2.62 Once the weather improved we undertook a substantial amount during the year. It is now one of the best performing teams in of road condition surveying and repair work. We implemented a Wales. As a result of their work, the children the Team works with comprehensive repair programme earlier this year and will have are now much less likely to re-offend and are at less risk from made significant improvements by next winter. harm.

2.63 Finally, we completed much of the preparatory work required to 2.67 One of the schemes we developed last year to help reduce the introduce civil parking enforcement. This will lead to more risk of young people offending was the Wildcamp activity scheme. cost-effective traffic management, which in turn and will help ease The scheme offered young people opportunities to try a range of congestion. Civil parking enforcement will be introduced in activities including coasteering, surf lifesaving and editing their Pembrokeshire in the spring of 2011. own short film.

2.64 Safety – Pembrokeshire is a safe county and we are committed to 2.68 We also made improvements to the way in which we respond to ensuring this continues to be the case. Almost all our work in this emergencies last year. We established an Integrated Management area is undertaken in partnership with the local emergency Control Centre for South West Wales. The centre brings together service. Our Community Safety Partnership is the main ourselves, the Mid and Weast Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the mechanism through which we plan and co-ordinate the work. Dyfed Powys Police, Hywel Dda Local Health Board, Wales Ambulance Service Trust and EAW to help co-ordinate responses to serious incidents and emergencies. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 14

2.69 Like other rural counties across Wales, the number of road accidents that occur in Pembrokeshire is comparatively high. We continued our work to reduce accidents by targeting our safety campaigns more effectively. During 2009 – 2010 we concentrated our efforts on rural roads, where 60% of accidents occur and on which motorcyclists are at a disproportionate risk of being injured. In addition, with our partners at Pembrokeshire College we organised a road safety awareness event for young people. Three hundred students attended the event

2.70 We carry out a range of activities to promote water and beach safety; we commission the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) to do this on our behalf. The benefits of this approach were highlighted during the summer of 2009 when beach lifeguards in Tenby averted a major incident, rescuing 40 young people from the sea when a sandbank collapsed.

2.71 Part of our work to keep the County safe includes child protection. During 2009 – 2010 we implemented the main recommendations of the national safeguarding review that was undertaken following the death of Baby P in London. We revised our Child Care Procedures Manual and launched a new version in June 2009. We also improved the systems we use to supervise social workers.

2.72 Finally, we launched a scheme to safeguard children and vulnerable people in our leisure centres and swimming pools. Pembrokeshire Leisure Watch trained over 100 staff to spot inappropriate or suspicious behaviour. The scheme was a joint venture between Pembrokeshire County Council and Dyfed-Powys Police Force. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 15

3. Finance and spending Table A: Net Revenue Summary 2009/10

Service Original Revised Actual 3.1 This chapter provides an overview of our spending during 2009 Estimate Estimate Expenditure – 2010. The information is based on our Statement of Accounts £000 £000 £000 which is publicly available. In the tables that follow, the original Children’s Services 96,907 96,973 96,960 estimate is the figure we set at the beginning of the financial year. Adult Social 31,354 31,512 31,509 We revise these figures every autumn, and this is the figure in Services the middle column. The actual expenditure column is calculated General Fund 1,688 1,809 1,889 after the financial year has closed. Housing Highways and 10,644 10,838 10,838 3.2 The first table (Table A) covers net revenue expenditure. Where Transport Services a service receives income (for instance, through user charges) Culture, 26,136 25,752 25,621 this is taken off. Environment and Planning 3.3 The money we spend on our own council housing is balanced by Services to the 1,943 1,890 1,913 the income we receive. For this reason, we have included a Public separate table (Table C) outlining details of income and Corporate and 4,071 3,666 3,683 expenditure because its net revenue expenditure is zero Democratic Core Non-Distributed 313 316 325 3.4 Capital funding, funding for buildings and other assets is shown Costs separately on the third table (Table C). Court service 179 184 204 Net Cost of 173,235 172,940 172,942 3.5 During 2009 – 2010 we set the lowest council tax in Wales Services (£665.34 for a Band D property) and remained within our revenue Precepts & Levies 7,100 7,128 7,128 budget. The following table summarises how the money was Interest and (1,900) (1,635) (1,760) spent, the amount of non-service specific grant received, the Investment Income share of income allocated by the Welsh Assembly Government Capital Financing 14,799 14,847 14,920 from the non-domestic rate pool and the amount of money Costs raised from council tax payers. Total 193,234 193,280 193,230 Financed By Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 16

Service Original Revised Actual Estimate Estimate Expenditure £000 £000 £000 Revenue Support (127,294) (127,294) 3.7 Our capital investment programme expenditure and funding for Grant 2009 – 2010 is summarised below. Where delays have occurred, National Non (31,679) (31,679) the projects and associated funding have been rolled forward to Domestic Rates future years. Council Tax (34,261) (34,778) (193,234) (193,751) Table C: Capital Investment 3.3.66 Th Thee fi nfinancingancing o off c councilouncil hhousingousing serviceservice isis “ring“ring fenced”fenced ” with cuwithstom customersers fundin gfundingthe co sthet o fcostthe ofse rthevic eservicethroug hthroughthe ren t they Division of Service Original Revised Actual pathey. Rrentent stheyfor pay.2009 Rents– 20 1for0 w2009ere s–e t2010in lin weree wit hsetth ine Welsh Planned Planned Expenditure Aslinesem withbly theGo vWelshernme Assemblynt’s guid eGovernment’sline rent in cguidelinerease ( 5.9%). Programme Programme Aprentpro xincreaseimately 6 (5.9%).0% of c uApproximatelystomers in Pe m60%bro kofe scustomershire are in receipt £000 £000 £000 Education 6,100 8,835 7,360 ofinre Pembrokeshirent rebates to as aresist inw ireceiptth rent ofpa rentyme rebatesnts. to assist with rent payments. Social Services 900 463 406 Transport 6,591 8,253 7,006 Table B: Council Housing Housing HRA 5,258 6,980 6,093 Housing General Fund 3,960 4,775 3,772 Housing Revenue Original Revised Actual Libraries, Culture & 699 488 274 Account 2009/10 Estimate Estimate Expenditure Heritage £000 £000 £000 Land Drainage & Coast 319 1,060 381 Income Protection Rents - Dwellings (17,314) (17,283) (17,240) Sports & Recreation 1,940 1,993 1,282 Other (1,085) (1,082) (1,032) Development 2,477 4,604 3,461 Total Income (18,399) (18,365) (18,272) Environmental Services 3,048 3,339 1,558 Expenditure Corporate Services 1,025 1,854 1,008 Management and 11,014 11,562 11,527 Total Expenditure 32,317 42,644 32,601 maintenance Borrowing 12,700 1,964 806 Negative Subsidy 6,292 6,085 6,039 Capital Grants & 15,340 19,861 17,282 Capital Financing 448 478 484 Contributions Costs Capital Receipts - 12,296 8,199 Other 645 240222 Earmarked Reserves 4,277 8,523 6,314 18,399 18,365 18,272 Total Funding 32,317 42,644 32,601 Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 17

4.4 Of the 127 indicators that make up the NSI and core indicator sets 4. Performance analysis (and that can be compared legitimately between the periods 2008 – 2009 and 2009 – 2010) 78% either improved or remained static. 4.1 We rely on a variety of performance indicators to monitor and The following graph charts our progress from 2007 – 2008 to 2009 manage our performance. Many of these indicators are either – 2010. It highlights our track record of continuous improvement. National Strategic Indicators (NSIs) or are included in the core indicator sets that exist across a range of services . The suite of indicators we use supplements other information relating to cost, quality and customer satisfaction; this provides us with a balanced view of performance across the organisation.

4.2 Increasingly we rely on ‘outcome measures’ to help us evaluate the impact of our actions on our customers and the community. Such measures are not perfect; it is sometimes difficult to make precise connections between such measures and the projects that have been implemented. Equally, it is not always appropriate to use such measures to draw comparisons between different areas; their real value lies in being able to track trends over time.

4.3 In Pembrokeshire we have started to use outcome measures to monitor our Community Plan. We have also started to develop measures that can be used to evaluate our progress against the Improvement Objectives we published earlier in the year. However, because this review looks back on our work during 2009 – 2010 our choice of indicators reflects those included in our previous Corporate and Improvement Plan. The order in which indicators are listed is the same as in the 2009 – 2010 Plan. This is the last time we will be publishing performance information in this way. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 18

4.5 Against the targets we set ourselves for 2009 – 2010 we were equally successful. We either got very close to or exceeded the target set for 76% of the indicators. Overall we were satisfied with our performance during 2009 – 2010.

4.6 The following table (Table D) illustrates how we met our target for the year and provides a commentary on those areas where we did well, as well as those where we need to improve further. We recorded figures above the Wales average for 62.5% of the 56 indicators that can be compared at a national level.

4.7 When comparing our performance with the national average it is important to consider that different local authorities will prioritise services in different ways (often to reflect local variations in need). Performance information may often be an indicator of the resources allocated to particular service areas. We are a low spending authority and have achieved the performance levels set out in the table while maintaining sensible levels of investment. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 19

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales We reduced the time it takes to process housing BNF/004 Time taken to process and council tax benefit claims for the second Housing and Council Tax Benefit year running and our performance is better than 9.5 11.1 14 8.9 10.1 new claims and change events the Wales average. We also lowered the overall (Data calculated per 1,000 (days). cost of administering these benefits by reducing caseload) salary costs and increasing income. The number of changes BNF/005 We have not reported figures for these indicators of circumstances which affect as we have been advised by the Local customers’ entitlement to Housing 836.9 908.4 884.63 - - Government Data Unit that there are concerns or Council Tax Benefit within the over the validity of the data at a national level. year per thousand caseload. CFH/007 % of council tax due for We exceeded our target this year. We were the the financial year which was 98.28% 96.42% 97.60% 97.75% 96.45% second best performing authority in Wales in this received by the authority. area. CFH/008 % of non-domestic rates due for the financial year Though slightly under target our performance in 98.31% 97.04% 98.65% 98.17% 96.66% which were received by the this area was the third best in Wales. authority. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 20

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales RBRS003 Cost of council tax and national non-domestic rates £11.22 - £11.34 £10.96 - collection (per head of We exceeded our targets in these areas and population). reduced our costs on last year. RBRS004 Cost of housing and council tax benefit admin (per £13.32 - £13.29 £12.90 - head of population). % of undisputed We were the second best performing authority in CFH/006 97.4% 88.2% 100% 96.7% 89.6% invoices paid within 30 days. Wales in this area last year. We exceeded our target in this area and Number of transactions PMPC6 32,025 - 32,500 38,430 - increased the number of transactions using using Purchase Cards. Purchase Cards by 20% on 2008/09. Through the robust application of our sickness CHR/002 No. of working days / absence policy we maintained positive results in shifts per Full Time Equivalent 10.7 11.5 10 10.7 10.9 this area. Although our year on year lost due to sickness absence. performance has remained static it remained ahead of an improved Wales average. RM6 No. of major injuries to local We achieved a reduction in the number of major authority employees reported to injuries to council employees through the 1.29 - 1.60 0.97 - the Health & Safety Executive per consistent application of health and safety 1,000 local authority employees. standards. EGC2 % of calls and personal visits dealt with at first point of We maintained a high level of performance in 75% - 75% 75% - contact in the contact centre and this area and met our target for the year. customer service centres. % of calls dealt with at first EGC3 Although we did not meet our target in this area, point of contact within the contact 61% - 65% 61% - we maintained a high level of performance. centre. Cost of food element per We were successful in reducing the food cost CT4 66p - 67p 63p - primary school meals. element of primary school meals during the year. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 21

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales HHA/014a No. of homeless families with children placed in 0 15.5 5 0 5.13 bed & breakfast accommodation For the second year running, we did not use any except in emergencies. bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless HHA/014b Average number of families. About a third of local authorities did not days all homeless families with use bed and breakfasts at all last year. 0 6 5 0 2 children spent in Bed and Breakfast accommodation. We improved the average time between homeless presentations and discharge of duty Average no. of working HHA/002 (56 days less than last year) and continued to days between homeless bring our performance closer to the Wales presentation and discharge of 215 131 190 159 121 average. We achieved this by monitoring the duty, for statutory homeless bidding for social housing by homeless household. applicants and by dealing with a backlog of older cases. SPP/001i Average no. of units of We increased the number of units available and housing related support per 1,000 exceeded our target for the year. Our 2.19 3.2 2.2 2.3 3.3 head of population of :- Floating performance in this area was just below the Support. Wales average. SPP/001ii Average no. of units of housing related support per 1,000 0.04 0.3 0.04 0.04 0.3 head of population of :- Direct We maintained our performance in relation to Access. each of these indicators and met almost all of Average no. of units SPP/001iii our targets for the year. of housing related support per 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 1,000 head of population of :- Temporary accommodation. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 22

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales SPP/001iv Average no. of units of housing related support per 0 0.9 0 0 0.9 1,000 head of population of :- Permanent accommodation. Average no. of units of SPP/001v We maintained our performance in relation to housing related support per 1,000 4.5. 8.4 4.55 4.1 8.3 each of these indicators and met almost all of head of population of :- Sheltered our targets for the year. accommodation for older people. SPP/001vi Average no. of units of housing related support per 3.8 8.7 3.77 3.9 9.4 1,000 head of population of :- Community alarm services. HHA/008 % of homeless Though we missed our target for the year we did presentations decided within 33 77.7% 87.1% 85.0% 82.9% 90.2% improve our performance in comparison with working days. 2008/09. Though we were successful in reducing the average number days it takes to deliver a disabled facilities grant by a further 74 days PSR/002 Average number of during 2009 – 2010, we need to do more in this calendar days taken to deliver a area. The introduction of further amendments to Disabled Facilities Grant. 624 375 500 550 349 the assessment and application process should enable us to achieve a further reduction during 2010 – 2011. We welcome the commitment that the Welsh Assembly Government has made to ensuring that the collection of this data is carried out consistently by all local authorities in Wales. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 23

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales Although it took just over a day longer during 2009 – 2010 to respond to requests for urgent MBMRR10 Average calendar repairs, our figures are still better than the target. days to complete non urgent 13.7 - 18 15 - The introduction of new policies and procedures responsive repairs. together with an increase in the number of employees working on new shift patterns should result in further improvement in this area. MBMPR99 Overall customer satisfaction - 3 star or above as a 99% - 98% 99% - % of customer survey responses received : Pre-Planned Repairs. MBMRR99 Overall customer satisfaction - 3 star or above as a We have maintained last year’s good 95% - 95% 95% - % of customer survey responses performance and met our targets for the year. received : Responsive Repairs. MBMC99 Overall customer satisfaction - 3 star or above as a 95% - 95% 95% - % of customer survey responses received : Cleaning Service. We improved the uptake of concessionary travel % of adults aged 60+ THS/007 passes by adults aged 60+. Our performance in who hold a concessionary travel 73.4% 82.2% 75% 86.2% 82.8% this area is consistently better than the Wales pass. average. PA8 % of valuations supplied Though we missed our target, this equates to within 15 working days of 100% - 95% 86.36% - only 3 instances where we exceeded our target instruction. timescale. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 24

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales Last year’s severe winter weather led to a Principal roads that THS/010a 6.3% 4.4% 6.3% 7.4% 5.0% significant deterioration in both our principal and are in overall poor condition. non-principal road networks. Most authorities THS/010b Non-principal / have seen a similar change. The programme of classified roads that are in overall 7.8% 8.3% 7.8% 11.1% 10.1% repairs that we have recently implemented will poor condition. result in improved figures next year. EST4 Cost of school transport provision per Primary School £861.7 - £865.2 £866 - Pupil transported. We narrowly missed our targets for both these EST5 Cost of school transport indicators. provision per Secondary School £574.5 - £576.8 £576 - Pupil transported. No. of brochure requests TCR3 219,935 - 250,000 226,700 - We increased the number of brochure requests generated by promotional activity. generated by 3% and increased the proportion of TCR4 Overall conversion rate these which led to a visit by 9% when compared (i.e. actual visits following 21.4% - 26% 23.4% - with 2008/09. brochure requests). Unemployment (January - 2187 - - 2690 - NOMIS) Unemployment increased significantly between Unemployment (July - NOMIS) 960 - - 2175 - 2008/09 and 2009/10 as the effects of the global Economic Activity Rates (Dec financial crisis worked their way through the local - - 73.9% 72.7% 2009 - NOMIS) economy. VAT Registered Businesses 5 - - - - (Stats Wales) Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 25

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales There were 9 delayed transfers of care due to SCA/001 Rate of delayed social care reasons during 2009/10. Though this transfers of care for social does represent an increase on the previous year, reasons per 1000 population aged 0.27 6.21 0.5 0.79 6.13 our performance in this area remains well above 75 and over. the Wales average. A process review of the whole system is underway which will result in improved performance. SCA/002a People aged 65 or over per 1,000 population (aged 63.56 88.62 65 67.82 86.69 We increased the number of older people 65 or over) supported in the supported in the community by extending the community. community services we offer. This had a positive People aged 65 or SCA/002b impact on the number of nursing and residential over per 1,000 population (aged 20.51 22.83 21.5 18.44 21.75 home placements we use. 65 or over) supported in care homes. Average number of SCA/005a We did not manage to reduce the time taken to working days between initial complete a care plan after an initial enquiry enquiry and completion of the 27 34 35 27 38 during 2009/10. However, our performance care plan, including specialist remains well within our targets and is better than assessments. the Wales average for both indicators. A review Average number of SCA/005b of the care planning processes will be working days between initial undertaken during 2010/11 in order to identify enquiry and completion of the 6 20 28 15 17 improvements that will enhance the service we care plan, excluding specialist offer our customers. assessments. % of clients with a care SCA/007 Though we missed our target, we maintained the plan at 31 March whose care performance levels we achieved during the plans should have been reviewed 78.3% 68.1% 100% 78.2% 71.5% previous year and continued to exceed the that were reviewed during the Wales average. year. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 26

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales We repeated our good performance during % of first placements SCC/001a 2008/09 last year and all children started with a during the year (looked after 100% 91.8% 100% 100% 92.3% care plan in place. We were one of 12 local children) beginning with a care authorities in Wales to have achieved this plan in place. standard. SCC/001b % of looked after 5.4% percent of our looked after children did not children with a plan for have a permanency plan in place at due date permanence at the due date, 97.6% 93.5% 100% 94.6% 91.9% during 2009/10. This equates to 2 children out of whose second review (due at 4 a cohort of 37 and is still better than the Wales months) was due during the year. average. SCC/002 % of children looked after at 31st March who had 1 or This indicator increased slightly last year more changes of school, during a compared with 2008/09. However, our period or periods of being looked 7.5% 13.5% 7% 8% 13.1% performance in this area remains above the after, which were not due to Wales average. transitional arrangements in the 12 months to 31st March. % of looked after SCC/021 Though we missed our target and remain below children reviews carried out within 80.9% 91.4% 100% 87.5% 90.9% the Wales average, our performance improved statutory timescales during the on 2008/09. year. % of child protection SCC/034 Though we missed our target our performance reviews carried out within 97.6% 96.8% 100% 97.2% 96.1% compared with other authorities improved and statutory timescales during the we are now well above average. year. It is not appropriate to set a target for this No. of children looked CFSLL2 138 - - 145 - indicator. Nationally, there has been an increase after, as at 31st March. in the number of looked after children. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 27

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales CFSLL3a % of looked after children as at 31st March in 10.2% - 8% 6.9% - residential accommodation. In general, we look to place looked after children CFSLL3b % of looked after with foster carers, as this tends to lead to better children as at 31st March in foster 78.3% - 80% 84.14% - outcomes for the children concerned. During care. 2009/10 we were successful in moving children CFSLL3c % of looked after from other forms of support into foster care. children as at 31st March 11.6% - 12% 8.96% - supported in other ways. It is not appropriate to set a target for this CQALL5 No. of children on the indicator. Nationally, there has been an increase child protection register as at 31st 87 - - 105 - in the number of children on the child protection March. register. Pupil attendance rates for both our primary and EDU/016a % of pupil attendance 93.4% 93.3% 94% 93.3% 93.2% secondary schools remained high and are above in primary schools. the Wales average. Our pupil support officers now have access to electronic attendance EDU/016b % of pupil attendance 90.9% 90.9% 91% 91.1% 91.0% systems which will further improve early in secondary schools. intervention and support. EDU/002i % of pupils aged 15 as at the preceding 31 Aug. (incl. We reduced the proportion of pupils leaving those in care) leaving full time 1.5% 1.5% 1.50% 1.3% 0.9% school without qualifications last year. Almost all education, training or work based local authorities improved in this area last year. learning without an approved external qualification. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 28

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales EDU/002ii % of Looked After pupils aged 15 as at the We repeated our good performance of 2008/09 preceding 31 Aug. leaving full last year and none of the pupils who we look 0.00% 12.1% 25% 0% 6.4% time education, training or work after left school without a qualification. This was based learning without an significantly better than the Wales average. approved external qualification. EDU/003 % of pupils assessed We improved the overall academic results by teachers at the end of Key achieved by pupils on last year, with the average Stage 2, in local authority schools, 76.1% 75.7% 77% 78.7% 77.3% point score of 15 year olds rising from 375 to achieving the Core Subject 412.5. Further work will now be done to improve Indicator. communications between providers to ensure all EDU/004 % of pupils assessed pupils’ qualifications are recognised when by teachers at the end of Key reporting results. Alternative provision for pupils Stage 3, local authority schools, 60.6% 59.7% 63% 62.7% 61.5% will also increase the number of pupils leaving achieving the Core Subject school with a qualification. The level of Indicator. achievement for key stage 2 pupils was better Average point score for EDU/011 than expected during 2009/10 and reflects the pupils aged 15 at the preceding 375 355 380 412.5 378.6 work we carried out to support our schools. 31 Aug., in local authority schools. EDU/006i % of pupils eligible for assessment, in local authority schools, receiving a Teacher 17.4% 19.6% 17% 17.8% 19.2% Assessment in Welsh at the end Both of these indicators reflect the proportion of of Key Stage 2. children living in Pembrokeshire who speak EDU/006ii % of pupils eligible for Welsh as a first language. This is something assessment, in local authority over which we have very little control. schools, receiving a Teacher 14.1% 16.0% 14% 12.7% 15.9% Assessment in Welsh at the end of Key Stage 3. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 29

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales % of temporary LLAMP1 We exceeded our target for the year, 8 classrooms removed from use 69% - 73% 77% - temporary classrooms were removed. since 1996. SII2.2 % of pupils in schools maintained by the authority in the Though we missed our target, our performance previous summer achieving 5 or 58% - 60% 58.5% - in this area improved during the year and more GCSEs at grades A*-C or continued to exceed the Wales average. the vocational equivalent. SII2.6 % of 15/16 year olds achieving the ‘core subject indicator’. Those pupils achieving Again, though we narrowly missed our target we 48% - 48% 47.8% - at least grade C in GCSE English maintained our high standards in this area. or Welsh, mathematics and science in combination. We exceeded our target for the year and % school meals uptake in all CT6 improved our performance of 2008/09. We primary schools utilising the local 50% - 52% 54% - anticipate being able to report further authority catering service. improvement in this area next year. % school meals uptake in CT10 Our performance in this area improved by 2% on all secondary schools utilising the 53% - 55% 55% - 2008/09 and we met our target for the year. local authority catering service. Our continued efforts to encourage pupil Dragon Sport Clubs :- % SP7.1 73% - 70% 73% - participation in sports clubs resulted in equity in boys participating. participation rates between boys and girls being achieved. During 2009/10 over 70% of key stage Dragon Sport Clubs :- % SP7.2 67.5% - 65% 70% - 2 pupils participated in sports clubs on a regular girls participating. basis. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 30

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales No. of visits to local LCS/002 Though we narrowly missed our target the authority sport and leisure centres number of visits increased substantially during during the year where the visitor 9,846 8,381 10,141 10,034 8,626 the year. This was in part due to our approach to will be participating in physical programming and marketing. activity, per 1,000 population. % reduction in carbon EEF/002a We exceeded our target for the year and emissions in the council’s non- 1.72% - 2% 2.46% - improved our performance on 2008/09. domestic public stock. % reduction in energy EEF/002bi 1.96% - 2% - - We have not reported figures for these indicators use in the housing stock. as we have been advised by the Local EEF/002bii % reduction in Government Data Unit that there are concerns carbon dioxide emissions in the 1.95% - 2% - - over the validity of the data at a national level. housing stock. The reduction in carbon emissions in the council’s non-domestic stock since 2003 reached 13.11% during 2009/10. By using biomass HC2 % reduction in carbon heating at some of our major facilities we emissions in the council’s non- 11.12% - 11% 13.11% - reduced our reliance on gas and oil. We also domestic public stock since 2003. carried out work to replace old heating systems with gas condensing boilers and installed low energy lighting, lighting controls and ceiling insulation. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 31

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales % of municipal waste WMT/001i 25.68% 23.12% 30% 28.85% 24.78% recycled or reused. WMT/001ii % of municipal waste We significantly reduced the amount of waste we composted or treated biologically 9.46% 12.76% 10% 11.93% 14.49% send to landfill. We focused our efforts on in another way. increasing recycling, by rolling out food waste % of bio-degradable collection and through improved waste WMT/002 62.49% 57.02% 61% 56.40% 51.34% municipal waste sent to landfill. separation of cardboard and wood. % of municipal waste WMT/004 61.11% 60.31% 57% 55.67% 55.75% landfilled. % of missed collections We exceeded our target in this area during ENV9 96% - 95% 95.32% - picked up within 24 hours. 2009/10. No. of reported incidents As this is a reactive service it is not appropriate ENV10 942 - - 1060 - of fly tipping. to set a target. Average time taken to We now remove fly tips a day quicker than we ENV11 4 - 4 3 - remove fly tips (days). did in 2008/09 and met our target for the year. THS/009 Average number of calendar days taken to repair We improved on our 2008/09 performance last 6 4.7 6 5.6 3.7 street lamp failures during the year and met our target. year (days). % of highways and STS/005b Though we missed our target for the year we relevant land inspected of a high 96% 95.2% 98% 96% 94.9% maintained our 2008/09 performance and or acceptable standard of performed better than the Wales average. cleanliness. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 32

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales PPN/001i % of high risk businesses liable to a 100% 99% 100% 100% 98% programmed inspection, inspected by: Trading Standards. The basis for classifying businesses as ‘high risk’ % of high risk PPN/001ii for health and safety was revised during businesses liable to a 100% 99% 99% 100% 96% 2009/10. This led to a ten-fold increase in the programmed inspection, total number of premises in Pembrokeshire inspected by: Food Hygiene. considered high risk. Long standing vacancies % of high risk PPN/001iii within our public protection teams also impacted businesses liable to a 100% 99% 100% 100% 99% on our ability to complete the required high risk programmed inspection, inspections. We are in the process of addressing inspected by: Animal Health. this issue. PPN/001iv % of high risk businesses liable to a 100% 97% 100% 79% 97% programmed inspection, inspected by: Health & Safety. PAT3 % of Animal Health & Welfare license applications determined/issued within 28 98% - 100% 100% - working days of completed application (non Committee We maintained our high standards in this area. matters). We narrowly missed our target for petrol / % of Petrol / Explosives / PFS3 explosives / poisons licenses. Poisons license applications determined/issued within 28 84% - 90% 88% - working days of completed application (non Committee matters). Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 33

2008/09 2009/10 Indicator Commentary Actual Wales Target Actual Wales PCL3 % of General Licensing license applications determined / issued within 28 working days of completed application (non Committee matters). For 100% - 95% 100% - We maintained our high standards in this area. Licensing Act applications statutory target is 20 working days after the expiry of the consultation period. PLA/004a % of major planning applications determined during 36.4% 33.1% 60% 13.3% 33.9% the year within 13 weeks. PLA/004b % of minor planning We improved our performance in processing of applications determined during 55.5% 52.1% 80% 68.9% 57.6% most planning applications. We still need to the year within 8 weeks. improve the speed with which we process major PLA/004c % of householder applications, but these can be held up by Section planning applications determined 80.7% 78.8% 80% 84.1% 83.3% 106 negotiations which are one of the ways we during the year within 8 weeks. maximise community benefit from development. PLA/004d % of all other planning applications determined 62% 62.7% 80% 70.4% 66.1% during the year within 8 weeks. Though we missed our target for the year we % of total length of CMT/001 improved our performance significantly on footpaths and other rights of way 52% 49% 70% 63% 55% 2008/09. As a result we are now better than the which are easy to use. Wales average in this area. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 34

5. Joint working 5.5 We also worked closely with our colleagues in the health service 5.1 We have an excellent track record of working with other on the development of an ‘integrated needs assessment’ which organisations to improve the services we deliver. Indeed, many of will inform joint priorities for the future. Again, we are one of the the examples cited in Chapter 2 of this review involved a only councils in Wales to lead the development of such an considerable amount of joint working. assessment and have a considerable amount of in-house expertise in this area. 5.2 The pressure currently being exerted on public spending provides an even greater driver for working collaboratively. We have 5.6 We initiated two new collaborative projects with the police during always been an efficient organisation but we can improve our 2009 – 2010. We entered into a joint agreement to host a new efficiency further by sharing resources with other service armed response unit tasked with protecting the energy facilities providers. on the Haven waterway. We also agreed a protocol whereby the police can communicate with our front-line staff to help them find 5.3 We made a special effort during 2009 – 2010 to instigate a missing vulnerable people. We continued to liaise with our police number of new partnership projects. This work has been led by colleagues on a range of community safety issues, covering our Local Service Board (LSB) which comprises representatives issues such as substance misuse, prolific offenders, licensing, of the County Council, Hywel Dda Health Board, Dyfed Powys preventing illegal raves and tackling domestic abuse. Police , the Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) and the Welsh Assembly Government. The LSB has 5.7 We continued to work closely with the voluntary sector recently approved a place-based working project that will drive throughout the year. We rely on many voluntary organisations to further work in this area. Making the most of the opportunities supplement the services we provide. We also directly fund a that exist within Pembrokeshire is very important to us. number of organisations. Earlier this year we worked with PAVS to develop a project addressing the accommodation needs of 5.4 For example, we have recently entered into an innovative new some of the larger voluntary organisations. We are encouraging arrangement with the Hywel Dda Health Board, agreeing to the organisations concerned to explore opportunities to co-locate second our Director of Social Care and our Head of Community and share the cost of the premises they occupy. Care to the Board on a part-time basis. We were the first council in Wales to enter into this type of arrangement, which has improved integration between health and social care services. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 35

5.8 There are many overlaps between the work that we do and that 5.11 While place-based working is particularly important to us, we also of PCNPA. While we do work together in a number of areas – collaborate with other councils in Wales as well as bodies with a principally on planning matters (we host PCNPA’s electronic national remit. During 2009 – 2010, in addition to the examples planning system) – we have been exploring a number of included in Chapter 2, we engaged in a number of regional opportunities to extend our relationship. We are currently collaborative projects. These included: developing proposals concerning joint work on car parking and traffic management, potential opportunities to co-locate services • the creation of a shared legal service, and the joint appointment of planners. We hope to be able to • the establishment of a Regional Learning Partnership to tackle report considerable progress in this area in next year’s review. skills needs and provision across the region, • a project concerning the commissioning of high cost learning 5.9 The federation arrangements we have developed with disabilities / mental health social care packages, Pembrokeshire College are set out in Chapter 2 of this review. In • the coordination of architecture and engineering services addition to this we have worked closely with both the college and across the region, and Job Centre Plus (as well as other bodies outside Pembrokeshire) • a number of regional bids for European Union funding to during the year to ensure we coordinate the identification of work support businesses and community enterprises. placements for those not in education, employment or training. We will be conducting further work in this area in the coming year. 5.12 We have also worked with U.K. central government to improve the range of services available to the people of Pembrokeshire. 5.10 We continued to develop joint projects with our colleagues in the For instance, we now have a facility to undertake passport Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and EAW during 2009 – interviews in County Hall, which spares our customers the 2010. One example of the areas where we already worked closely inconvenience of having to travel to either Aberystwyth or together is the funding from CCW that enables us to employ a Swansea. Biodiversity Implementation Officer. Earlier this year we supported local representatives of CCW and EAW in establishing 5.13 The 2009 Local Government (Wales) Measure gave local an environmental sub-group of Pembrokeshire’s Community authorities greater powers to collaborate in order to provide Planning and Leadership Partnership. services, exercise functions or enter into arrangements. We anticipate being able to do much more work in this area in the coming year. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 36

6. Planning for the future

6.1 This review has looked back on our progress during 2009 – 2010. 6.5 Whatever the circumstances, our commitment to public service In general terms we were satisfied with our performance. We do will remain undiminished. We look forward to reporting further not have any major area of weakness and we will continue to progress to you next year. strive for improvement across the full range of our responsibilities. We already have a formal mechanism for building these conclusions into the way in which we plan our business for the future.

6.2 The Improvement Plan we published in May this year set out some very clear goals for the future. We will be reporting back on these objectives when we publish our next Improvement Review in October 2011.

6.3 The principal challenge we will face during the coming year will be the substantial reduction in our funding. The U.K. Government is due to publish the results of its Comprehensive Spending Review at the end of October, but it will not be until the Welsh Assembly Government has worked through its figures that we will know what the implications will be for our own budget. In all likelihood this will not be until after November 2010.

6.4 Though we know the coming year will be tough we will continue to focus on delivering high quality services to our customers, and doing so at a reasonable cost. The way we do this will undoubtedly need to change; developments in technology, changing patterns of customer demand and new Government priorities will all create opportunities for us to do things differently. Pembrokeshire County Council Improvement Review 2009-2010 Glossary 37

Affordable housing Any housing (e.g. for rent, for purchase, or for part rent or part High risk businesses Those types of businesses where, based on experience across purchase) that is available at less than market rates. the country, problems are more likely to occur. The definition Average point score A measure of pupils’ results in GCSE or work-based of high risk businesses is set out in guidance developed by qualifications. national bodies such as the food standards agency or the Welsh Assembly Government. Carbon emissions An estimate of the total amount of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent, produced by a person, organisation, event or Integrated Needs assessment A formal process to assess the needs of multiple service users product. prior to the development of detailed service design. Civil Parking Enforcement An arrangement where responsibility for ensuring drivers do Local Government (Wales) Power to legislate for community planning and local not park on double yellow lines etc. is enforced by the local Measure 2009 government improvement in Wales has been devolved to the authority (as opposed to the police). National Assembly for Wales. A Measure is the term used to describe legislation drawn up by the Assembly Government. COAST project Creating Opportunities And Skills Teams. A project working across the whole of South West Wales aimed at the promotion Looked after children Children that the Council has taken into care. Looked after of vocational, employment and skills training for people who children are placed either with foster carers or adoptive are economically inactive as a result of illness and/or disability parents. However, the Council retains a legal responsibility for their welfare (we are their corporate parents). Community Plan This is the over-arching plan for Pembrokeshire and sets out how the main public and voluntary sector agencies will work Municipal waste Waste collected directly from households, through civic together to improve quality of life amenity sites, from litter bins or through street cleaning. Core subject indicator The percentage achieving the expected level in English or Outcome measures A measure that is used to evaluate the impact of service Welsh (first language), Mathematics and Science in Key Stage delivery on an area or population. 1-3 and at least GCSE Grade C at Key Stage 4. Reablement A package of services for people who need support to live in Delayed transfers of care This is sometimes called bed-blocking. This can happen when their own homes independently. These services encourage someone has been in hospital and no longer requires medical and support people to do as much as they can for themselves, services, but requires additional services to be in place before they doing tasks with them rather than for them. can go home. It is often our responsibility to ensure that these Rural Development Plan This is administered by the Welsh Assembly Government and services are in place. sets out how European Union funds will be used in rural areas. Disabled Facilities Grant A grant that is available to adapt the home of someone living The plan is delivered in the County through the Pembrokeshire with a disability. Advance partnership and its local development strategy. Federation arrangements An arrangement between education providers to increase the Social Enterprise An organisation that aims to achieve social or environmental range of qualifications that is available to young people. In goals as well as (and sometimes instead of) financial profit Pembrokeshire this project requires local schools and Statement of Accounts This is a high level set of accounts for a financial year. The Pembrokeshire College to coordinate the provision of some format and content of the accounts is defined by the Chartered courses. Institute of Public Finance Accountants and the associated Good Neighbour Scheme A programme to help local residents encourage and manage Statement of Recommended Accounting Practice. volunteer activity in their areas.