Annual Improvement Report including the Corporate Assessment 2014 The City of Cardiff Council Issued: September 2014 Document reference: 367A2014 About the Auditor General for Wales Contents The Auditor General is independent of government, and is appointed by Her Majesty the Queen. Summary report, introduction and proposal for improvement 4 The Auditor General undertakes his work using staff and other resources provided by the Wales Audit Office, which is a statutory board established for that purpose and to monitor and advise Detailed report the Auditor General. The Wales Audit Office is held to account by the National Assembly. Fragmented leadership and management have meant that weak performance Together with appointed auditors, the Auditor General audits local government bodies in Wales, in key service areas has not improved 7 including unitary authorities, police, probation, fire and rescue authorities, national parks and community councils. He also conducts local government value for money studies and assesses Political and managerial instability over a number of years has meant that the compliance with the requirements of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009. Council has been unable to develop the culture and framework necessary for continuous improvement 7 Beyond local government, the Auditor General is the external auditor of the Welsh Government The Council has identified what it wants to achieve for its citizens but has lacked and its sponsored and related public bodies, the Assembly Commission and National Health an effective means of delivery 9 Service bodies in Wales. Some processes intended to ensure good governance have not been implemented, The Auditor General and staff of the Wales Audit Office aim to provide public-focused and and decision-making processes are inefficient and lack transparency 12 proportionate reporting on the stewardship of public resources and in the process provide insight and promote improvement. Whilst there have been some recent changes, performance management has failed to consistently secure improvement in the past 17 Cover image © Kieran Ridley Although the Council ensures a balanced budget, prospects for achieving proposed savings in 2014-15 are uncertain and the anticipated level of future funding means current methods of service delivery are unsustainable 31 This Corporate Assessment Report has been prepared on behalf of the Auditor General for Corporate human resource arrangements are founded on positive practice but are Wales by Steve Barry and Samantha Spruce under the direction of Jane Holownia. not being implemented consistently 33 The Council is improving its use of information technology and its information management arrangements 36 The Council is not managing its land and property assets well 38 The Council engages well in collaboration with others and is able to demonstrate improved outcomes for citizens 40 Appendices Appendix 1 Status of this report 44 Appendix 2 Useful information about Cardiff and Cardiff Council 45 Appendix 3 Annual audit letter 47 Appendix 4 Cardiff Council’s improvement objectives and self-assessment 50 2 Annual Improvement Report - The City of Cardiff Council 3 Annual Improvement Report - The City of Cardiff Council Summary report, introduction and proposal for improvement Introduction 3 Our fieldwork for the corporate Summary • whilst there have been some recent assessment focused on the extent to changes, performance management has which arrangements are contributing to failed to consistently secure improvement 1 Under the Local Government (Wales) delivering improved service performance 6 Each year, the Auditor General must report in the past; Measure 2009 (the Measure), the Auditor and outcomes for citizens. The corporate on how well Welsh councils, fire and rescue General must report each year on how assessment sought to answer the following authorities, and national parks are planning • although the Council ensures a balanced well Welsh councils, fire and rescue question: for improvement in delivering their services. budget, prospects for achieving proposed authorities, and national parks are planning ‘Is the Council capable of delivering This report sets out the findings of the savings in 2014-15 are uncertain and the for improvement in delivering their services. its priorities and improved outcomes for work undertaken on behalf of the Auditor anticipated level of future funding means Appendix 1 provides more information citizens?’ General by the staff of the Wales Audit current methods of service delivery are about the Auditor General’s powers and Office; and also draws on the work of the unsustainable; duties under the Measure. This work has 4 Given the wide range of services provided relevant Welsh inspectorates. The report been undertaken by staff of the Wales Audit and the challenges facing the Council, it covers the Council’s delivery of services, its • corporate human resource arrangements Office, on behalf of the Auditor General. With would be unusual if we did not find things evaluation of services in relation to 2012-13, are founded on positive practice but are help from Welsh inspectorates, Estyn (for that can be improved. The Auditor General is and its planning of improvement for 2013- not being implemented consistently; education), the Care and Social Services able to: 14. Taking these into account, the report Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW), and the records the Auditor General’s conclusion • the Council is improving its use Welsh Language Commissioner, we have • make proposals for improvement – if on whether he believes that the Council will of information technology and its brought together a picture of what Cardiff proposals are made to the Council, we make arrangements to secure continuous information management arrangements; Council (the Council) is trying to achieve, would expect it to do something about improvement for 2014-15. • the Council is not managing its land and how it is going about it, and the progress them and we will follow up what happens; property assets well; and it has made since the Auditor General 7 The Auditor General has concluded that: • make formal recommendations Fragmented leadership and management published his last annual improvement • the Council engages well in collaboration for improvement – if a formal have meant that weak performance in key report. The report also draws on the with others and is able to demonstrate recommendation is made the Council service areas has not improved. We came Council’s own self-assessment. Finally, improved outcomes for citizens. taking all this into account, the report records must prepare a response to that to this conclusion because: the Auditor General’s conclusion on whether recommendation within 30 working days; 8 In May 2013, the Chief Executive outlined • political and managerial instability over the Council is likely to make arrangements to the Cabinet the risks and emerging • conduct a special inspection and publish a number of years has meant that the to secure continuous improvement for challenges to the Council across all Cabinet a report and make recommendations; Council has been unable to develop the 2014-15. portfolio areas, following which the Cabinet and culture and framework necessary for commissioned a Peer Review by the Welsh 2 In 2013-14, staff of the Wales Audit Office continuous improvement; • recommend to Ministers of the Welsh Local Government Association. The review, began a four-year cycle of corporate Government that they intervene in some • the Council has identified what it wants to published in September 2013, highlighted assessments of improvement authorities in way. achieve for its citizens but has lacked an a deterioration in systems and procedures Wales. This means that, in addition to an effective means of delivery; over a number of years together with a annual programme of improvement studies 5 We want to find out if this report gives you lack of transparency in information being and audits of councils’ approaches to the information you need and whether it • some processes intended to ensure good reported to members. In October 2013, improvement planning and reporting, each is easy to understand. You can let us governance are not being implemented, Cabinet adopted a report which described authority will receive an in-depth corporate know your views by e-mailing us at and decision-making processes are actions the Cabinet ‘already had in place assessment once during a four-year period. [email protected] or writing to us at inefficient and lack transparency; to contribute significantly to addressing the In the intervening years, we will keep track 24 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ. Peer Review recommendations’ and that of developments through progress updates. 4 Annual Improvement Report - The City of Cardiff Council 5 Annual Improvement Report - The City of Cardiff Council Detailed report Fragmented leadership and management have meant that weak performance in key service areas has not improved ‘other elements of the Peer Review which • The Council cannot be sure that Political and managerial instability over structure between July and September needed urgent action have either already policies and procedures are being put a number of years has meant that the 2013. The Chief Executive, who had been in been addressed or appropriate actions are into practice. Control systems are not post for three years, resigned in June 2013 Council has been unable to develop the currently being put in place’. effectively identifying