Annual Self-Assessment 2024-25

Methodology - A Thematic Approach

To provide a clear structure and focus, our self-assessment is designed around a thematic framework built around key corporate and organisational themes, with performance under each of these themes assessed.

Our self-assessment framework is aligned to our Corporate Strategy which for this reporting period is the version agreed by Council in May 2022 consisting of twelve Well-being Objectives.  As is set out in 2.1 of this report, a new Corporate Strategy 2025-2030 was agreed in March 2025 and therefore the framework for next year’s report will need to be adapted to reflect the four new Well-being Objectives agreed as part of the new strategy. 

The overarching themes for our self-assessment report are:

1. The Council’s Well-being Objectives (as set out in the Corporate Strategy 2023-2028)
2. Corporate planning, performance and working with others

Each theme is supported by a set of sub-themes to supplement our understanding of how we are performing in each area.

 

Theme 1: SA1 - Well-being objectives

• SA1.1 - We will improve the provision of education and learning, equipping our learners with lifelong skills and knowledge they will need for the future.
• SA1.2 - We will ensure the appropriate provision of care and support, focusing on prevention and ensuring vulnerable people are safe
• SA1.3 - We will enable the delivery of affordable, available, adaptable and energy efficient homes
• SA1.4 - We will deliver our economic ambition through supporting growth, jobs and prosperity and enable the transition to a more sustainable and greener economy
• SA1.5 - We will promote and support initiatives to deliver decarbonisation, manage climate adaptation and tackle the nature emergency
• SA1.6 - We will support our communities, maintaining positive relationships with them to help to build active, resourceful, connected, sustainable and creative communities
• SA1.7 - We will support the Welsh language within communities and through schools
• SA1.8 - We will focus resources on delivering core services such as highways, waste and recycling, public protection and leisure and culture that contribute to communities’ quality of life, ensuring residents live in neighbourhoods that are clean, green, safe and active
• SA1.9 - We will develop a strategy to reduce poverty and inequality
• SA1.10 - We will build a culture of good governance in the Council to enhance trust and confidence in our decision-making processes
• SA1.11 - We will be a financially sustainable and resilient Council managing our resources and assets effectively and efficiently, for instance by reviewing and optimizing our corporate estate
• SA1.12 - We will enhance the development of our workforce, improving skills and opportunities as well as tackling issues of recruitment and retention

 

Theme 2: SA2 - Corporate planning, performance and working with others

• SA2.1 - Corporate planning and performance
• SA2.2 - Strategic partnerships
• SA2.3 - Consultation and engagement
• SA2.4 - Complaints and compliments
• SA2.5 - Equalities

 

Self-assessment is an evidence-based analysis, understanding what a range of quantitative and qualitative information at the Council’s disposal reveals about how it is exercising its functions, using its resources and governing itself.  We have asked ourselves 3 key questions to assess performance under each sub-theme.  These are:

• How well are we doing?  (Assessing current performance using both qualitative and quantitative information.)
• How do we know? (Providing appropriate evidence to demonstrate the above.)
• What can we do better and how?  (Identifying forward looking improvement actions.)

The self-assessment draws on a range of internal and external sources, ensuring a broad evidence base to inform the actions the Council will take to increase the extent to which it is meeting the performance requirements in future.  Below are a range of examples of the type of information we have drawn on as an evidence base:

• Service plan self-assessment sections
• External regulatory reports
• External service reviews
• Corporate Performance Scorecard
• Citizen engagement and consultation exercises
• Annual Governance Statement
• Budget outturn report
• Other statutory reports e.g. Director of Social Services Annual Report

It is worth noting that the Council is scheduled to undertake its first Panel Performance Assessment (PPA) in October 2025.  This is a separate performance requirement under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act and places a duty on Councils to arrange for an external panel to conduct a PPA at least once each electoral cycle.  A PPA is an independent, organisational-level assessment undertaken by expert peers, designed to support Councils to actively seek external challenge and assurance, and to embrace different perspectives around how they are performing and where they can improve.

In this context, this year’s annual self-assessment report is an important source of evidence for the Council’s PPA, in that its findings will be used to identify the themes and areas of improvement where the Council can benefit most from the independent perspectives and expertise the panel members can bring to our PPA.