Committee details

ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL

CORPORATE POLICY AND PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE

ORDERS OF REFERENCE

1.    To develop and approve corporate policy and strategies including partnership working, and HR policies except those specified as relating to teaching staff and falling within the remit of the Education, Culture and Sports Committee.

2.    To oversee the community planning process.

3.    To agree and monitor neighbourhood community action plans.

4.    To ensure involvement of community, neighbourhood networks and partners in Committee decision making.

5.    To be accountable for the services provided by the Corporate Governance Service except internal audit.

6.    To receive and scrutinise performance information for the Corporate Governance Service (with the exception of budget monitoring reports).

7.    To be accountable for the services provided by the Office of Chief Executive.

8.    To receive and scrutinise performance information for the Office of Chief Executive.

9.    To oversee the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Elected Members including the taking of action in regard to allegations of misconduct and the introduction of any guidance, policy or procedures in accordance with the provisions of the Code.

10.  To oversee the implementation of the Five Year Business Plan.

11.  To approve a plan for Best Value Audits and to consider performance outcomes from the Audit.

12.  To ensure the Council meets its obligations in terms of Corporate Governance compliance.

13.  To ensure that the Council meets its responsibilities in terms of Best Value legislation.

14.  To monitor annually performance and consistency between service committees.

15.  Where the Chief Executive or Council so request, to monitor and scrutinise particular performance or service delivery matters.

16.  To receive reports on whistleblowing and other investigations.

17.  To instruct such performance information as the Committee requires to fulfil its remit.

18.  To ensure that in fulfilling this remit the Committee has regard to statutory requirements such as the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, in relation to Best Value and continuous improvement.

19.  To ensure the Council meets its legal obligations through:-

(a)   The approval of a fraud policy and monitoring its implementation; and

(b)    Commissioning investigations to secure value for money in the delivery of services.

20.  To oversee the processes by which services are exposed to competition and costs are let, where the Council itself is a bidder for the work.

21.  The Committee will refer business items relating to service delivery issues to the appropriate committees, while reserving the function of monitoring performance of those other committees in dealing with items so referred.

22.  To receive external performance reports, and ensure any necessary action, unless service specific.

23.  To receive reports from the Commission of Local Administration in Scotland and ensure any necessary action.

24.  To maintain an overview of the Code of Guidance on Funding External Bodies and Following the Public Pound - Review of the allocation of grants to outside bodies.

25.  The Committee is charged with the responsibility for corporately monitoring and validating the activities of other Standing Committees relating to the development and implementation of processes for achieving Continuous Improvement (including Best Value) in the design and delivery of services and in the development of measures to achieve social inclusion and sustainable development, and generally with the promoting, in a visible and challenging manner, the development of Continuous Improvement (including Best Value) in all its senses.

26.  The committee will have the responsibility of monitoring:-

(a)      the development and implementation of new systems for ensuring performance management and quality assurance in the Council's structure for service delivery;

(b)      the due influencing of service delivery, planning and strategic development;

(c)      the planning and progress of service reviews and the implementation of action plans arising from those reviews;

(d)      arrangements for achieving Value for Money, Continuous Improvement and Best Value in services provided by external contractors; and

(e)      the adoption and implementation of the management framework for planning, implementing, monitoring, reporting and reviewing delivery

27.  In respect of the Council’s responsibilities in relation to the Scottish Police Authority, the Police Service of Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012:-

        (a)       to comment on the strategic police plan and the strategic fire and rescue plan when consulted by the relevant national authority;

        (b)       to respond to consultation by the Chief Constable on the designation of a local commander and by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on the designation of a local senior officer;

        (c)        to be involved in the setting of priorities and objectives for the policing of Aberdeen and for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for the undertaking of its functions in Aberdeen;

        (d)       to specify policing measures the Council wishes the local commander to include in a local policing plan; 

        (e)       to approve a local police plan submitted by the local commander and to approve a local fire and rescue plan prepared by the local senior officer and submitted by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service; 

        (f)         to monitor service provision and delivery in Aberdeen and provide feedback to the local commander and the local senior officer;

        (g)       to consider reports, statistical information and other information about the policing of Aberdeen and the undertaking of the Fire and Rescue function in Aberdeen provided in response to the Council’s reasonable requests; 

        (h)        to agree, with the local commander, modifications to an approved local police plan at any time; and

(i)                 to liaise with the local commander and local senior officer with regard to the undertaking by them of the community planning duties of the Chief Constable and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.