District Audit Report: review of corporate planning arrangements

Report: 06
Date: 18 April 2002
By: Clerk

Summary

District Audit has submitted a report following a review of corporate planning arrangements. The conclusions and recommendations are summarised and an initial response is presented for member approval. Subject to member feedback, it is proposed to present an action plan at the next meeting of the committee.

A. Recommendations

1. That members note the conclusions and recommendations in the District Audit report at Appendix 1;
2. That members approve the initial response to the recommendations as set out at Appendix 2;
3. That an action plan progressing recommendations be submitted to the next meeting of the committee.

B. Supporting information

1. In late 2001 District Audit conducted a review of MPA/MPS corporate planning arrangements. A draft report was submitted to the Clerk to confirm factual accuracy and, following feedback from MPA and MPS officers, a final report has recently been received (attached at Appendix 1, see Supporting material).

Summary of process

2. District Audit assessed corporate planning arrangements following an audit of the policing and performance plan 2001/02. The work is the first in a series of related reviews by District Audit and sought to address the following questions:

• Is there a clear and comprehensive planning framework?
• Are corporate and service delivery plans informed by consultation with users, partners and staff?
• Are there mechanisms in place to ensure robust monitoring and reporting of performance against the objectives and targets in the plans?
• How well is the corporate and service delivery planning process linked to the budget setting cycle and do these links result in a policy driven budget process?

3. The work by District Audit included reviewing relevant documentation; using data from their best value survey plus interviews with senior officers.

Summary of findings

4. District Audit concluded that: 

'The MPA and the MPS are working to establish a corporate strategy and an effective corporate planning framework. The best value performance plan has been central to corporate planning arrangements in the last two years, in line with good practice. There is a need now to finalise the longer term strategy, and ensure that an appropriate and comprehensive planning framework is in place to satisfy all internal and external requirements.'

5. District Audit also made a number of recommendations (listed at Appendix 1 of the District Audit report: 'issues matrix').

Proposed response

6. The draft report is considered to be a helpful document and there is strong support for the main conclusion. The report acknowledges the progress already made and the recommendations complement the intention of the MPA and MPS to improve the arrangements for corporate planning. An initial MPA/MPS response to the recommendations is set out at Appendix 2 (see Supporting material).

Proposed next steps

7. Subject to confirmation of the proposed response to District Audit a more detailed action plan will be prepared jointly by MPA and MPS officers and presented to the next meeting of FPBV Committee.

C. Financial implications

There are no immediate financial implications.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

Report author: Derrick Norton, Best Value Manager, MPA.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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