Annex 2

Local Government Benchmarking Framework

Indicators 2023/24 – Linked to Priorities in the Council Plan 2023 to 2028

Contents

Growing Our Economy

• Claimant Count as a Percentage of Working Age Population. Page 3
• Percentage of Children living in Poverty (after housing costs). Page 4
• Percentage of Procurement Spent on Local Enterprises. Page 5
• CO2 Emissions Area-Wide per Capita. Page 6
• CO2 Emissions within Scope of Local Authority per Capita. Page 7

Strengthening Our Community

• Adults Supported at Home Who Agree that They had a Say in How Their Care, Help or Support was Provided. Page 8
• Adults Supported at Home Who Agree that Their Services had an Impact in Improving or Maintaining Their Quality of Life. Page 9
• Balance of Care for Looked After Children: Percentage of Children Being Looked After in the Community. Page 10
• Percentage of Pupils Gaining 5+ Awards at Level 5. Page 11
• Proportion of Pupils Entering Positive Destinations. Page 12

Contents (continued)

Strengthening Our Community (continued)

• Percentage of P1, P4 and P7 Pupils Combined Achieving Expected Curriculum for Excellence Level in Literacy. Page 13
• Percentage of P1, P4 and P7 Pupils Combined Achieving Expected Curriculum for Excellence Level in Numeracy. Page 14
• School Attendance Rate for Looked After Children. Page 15

Developing Our Infrastructure

• Percentage of Council Dwellings meeting Scottish Housing Standards. Page 16
• Percentage of Council Dwellings that are Energy Efficient. Page 17

Transforming Our Council

• Proportion of Operational Buildings that are Suitable for their Current Use. Page 18
• Actual Outturn as a Percentage of Budgeted Expenditure. Page 19
• Sickness Absence Days per Teacher. Page 20

• Sickness Absence Days per Employee (Non-Teacher). Page 21

• Ranked in the top eight Scottish Councils.

• Ranked between nine and 16.
• Ranked in the bottom 16.

IMAGE: The Orkney Islands Council logo appears above the document title. A contents table lists the indicators under the four priorities: Growing Our Economy, Strengthening Our Community, Developing Our Infrastructure, and Transforming Our Council.

IMAGE: A continuation contents table lists indicators on pages 13 to 21. A key explains that a green tick means ranked in the top eight Scottish Councils, a yellow triangle means ranked between nine and 16, and a red circle means ranked in the bottom 16.

Working Together for Orkney

Priority: Growing Our Economy

ECON 12a – Claimant Count as a Percentage of Working Age Population.

The low claimant count is linked to the very high employment rate which is a result of multiple job opportunities and an aging population meaning fewer people in the labour market.

Shortage of housing contributes to this as it can be difficult for people to move to Orkney to take up job opportunities.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “CLAIMANT COUNT AS A PERCENTAGE OF WORKING AGE POPULATION” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2010-11 to 2023-24. The Orkney Islands series is 1.55% in 2023-24; Scotland is approximately 3.1%; and the FG Median is approximately 2.1%. Orkney is below both comparison series in 2023-24 and ranked first out of 32 Scottish Councils.

CHN24 – Percentage of Children living in Poverty (after housing costs)

Awaiting further update on this PI. Last information is 22/23

IMAGE: A line chart titled “PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY (AFTER HOUSING COSTS)” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2014-15 to 2022-23. Orkney is 19.3% in 2022-23; Scotland is approximately 21.8%; and the FG Median is approximately 18.2%. Orkney’s 2022-23 rank is 6 out of 32 Scottish Councils.

ECON4 – Percentage of Procurement Spent on Local Enterprises.

The Council has a statutory duty to achieve best value in carrying out its functions, including the procurement of goods and services. On occasions the specification of a service or product required by the Council is able only to be met by suppliers based outwith Orkney.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “PERCENTAGE OF PROCUREMENT SPENT ON LOCAL ENTERPRISES” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2010-11 to 2023-24. Orkney is 40.44% in 2023-24, compared with approximately 30.5% for Scotland and 36% for the FG Median. Orkney ranked fourth out of 32 Scottish Councils.

CLIM1 – CO2 Emissions Area-Wide per Capita.

We are working in collaboration to develop projects to minimise emissions of the three Island Groups. Works on new network interconnector will enable more renewable projects in Orkney. The statistics for these indicators are reported annually but the data provided is always for the previous year so runs behind, the data for this indicator reflects the status for the period 2022/23. The data for 2023/2024 will be published in June 2025.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “CO2 EMISSIONS AREA WIDE PER CAPITA” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2010-11 to 2022-23. Orkney is 5.80 tonnes per capita in 2022-23; Scotland is approximately 4.8; and the FG Median is approximately 5.7. Orkney’s emissions declined from approximately 9.9 in 2010-11 to 5.8 in 2022-23.

CLIM2 – CO2 Emissions within Scope of Local Authority per Capita.

Completion of the St Andrews primary school extension and conversion of the heating system from oil to Ground Source Heat Pumps. Progress on the external insulation of Stromness Academy. Completion of the Orkney Library re-lighting with LED and improvements to the building air tightness testing. The statistics for these indicators are reported annually but the data provided is always for the previous year so runs behind, the data for this indicator reflects the status for the period 2022/23.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “CO2 EMISSIONS AREA WIDE: EMISSIONS WITHIN SCOPE OF LOCAL AUTHORITY PER CAPITA” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2010-11 to 2022-23. Orkney is 4.63 tonnes per capita in 2022-23; Scotland is approximately 4.2; and the FG Median is approximately 5.1. Orkney’s figure declined from approximately 7.8 in 2010-11 to 4.63 in 2022-23.

Priority: Strengthening Our Community

SW4d – Adults Supported at Home Who Agree that They had a Say in How Their Care, Help or Support was Provided.

This is an improvement on last recording of 61.9% in 21/22. We have not been able to identify concrete reasons for the post pandemic drop however we have paid particular attention to observations made during reviews and reasons for complaints.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “PERCENTAGE OF ADULTS SUPPORTED AT HOME WHO AGREE THEY HAD A SAY IN HOW THEIR HELP, CARE OR SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2013-14 to 2023-24. Orkney is 68.09% in 2023-24, compared with approximately 59.5% for Scotland and 65.5% for the FG Median. Orkney’s rank improved to fourth out of 32 Scottish Councils.

SW4b – Adults Supported at Home Who Agree that Their Services had an Impact in Improving or Maintaining Their Quality of Life.

This is a percentage point less than last year however we have regained our rank of second. It is nonetheless a drop and we will endeavour to understand better the decline.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “ADULTS SUPPORTED AT HOME WHO AGREE THEIR CARE HAD AN IMPACT IN IMPROVING OR MAINTAINING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2013-14 to 2023-24. Orkney is 79.64% in 2023-24, compared with approximately 69.5% for Scotland and 75.5% for the FG Median. Orkney ranked second out of 32 Scottish Councils.

CHN9 – Balance of Care for Looked After Children: Percentage of Children Being Looked After in the Community.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “BALANCE OF CARE FOR LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN: PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN BEING LOOKED AFTER IN THE COMMUNITY” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2010-11 to 2022-23. Orkney is 66.7% in 2022-23, below Scotland at approximately 89% and the FG Median at approximately 83.5%. Orkney ranked 32nd out of 32 Scottish Councils.

CHN4 – Percentage of Pupils Gaining 5+ Awards at Level 5.

The general trend for Orkney school leavers’ attainment of at least 5 level 5 awards is positive.

There remains significant focus on the tracking and monitoring of achievement within the senior phase with the aim to achieve our 80% target.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “PERCENTAGE OF PUPILS GAINING 5+ AWARDS AT LEVEL 5” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2011-12 to 2023-24. Orkney is 73% in 2023-24, compared with approximately 66.5% for Scotland and 74% for the FG Median. Orkney ranked fifth out of 32 Scottish Councils.

CHN11 – Proportion of Pupils Entering Positive Destinations.

The proportion of school leavers entering positive destinations has risen from 94.4% in 22/23 to 95.3% in 23/24, with a consequent rise in Orkney’s rank, following the slight decline in 2022/23.

With the small numbers in Orkney and the high performance across the whole of Scotland, one young person can make a significant difference in our ranking.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “PROPORTION OF PUPILS ENTERING POSITIVE DESTINATIONS” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2011-12 to 2023-24. Orkney is 95.26% in 2023-24, compared with approximately 95.6% for Scotland and 96.3% for the FG Median. Orkney ranked 23rd out of 32 Scottish Councils.

CHN13a – Percentage of P1, P4 and P7 Pupils Combined Achieving Expected Curriculum for Excellence Level in Literacy.

The most up-to-date data will be available in June 2025. We continue to display strong performance against this indicator which has improved year-on-year and we are working to secure further improvement.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “PERCENTAGE OF P1, P4 AND P7 PUPILS COMBINED ACHIEVING EXPECTED CFE LEVEL IN LITERACY” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2018-19 to 2023-24. Orkney rises from approximately 61% in 2018-19 to 80.4% in 2023-24. In 2023-24, Scotland is approximately 74% and the FG Median approximately 77.5%. Orkney ranked third out of 32 Scottish Councils.

CHN13b – Percentage of P1, P4 and P7 Pupils Combined Achieving Expected Curriculum for Excellence Level in Numeracy.

The most up-to-date data will be available in June 2025. We have seen continuous improvement in this indicator and we are working to ensure that we can improve standards further.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “PERCENTAGE OF P1, P4 AND P7 PUPILS COMBINED ACHIEVING EXPECTED CFE LEVEL IN NUMERACY” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2018-19 to 2023-24. Orkney rises from approximately 72% in 2018-19 to 85.5% in 2023-24. In 2023-24, Scotland is approximately 80% and the FG Median approximately 83.5%. Orkney ranked third out of 32 Scottish Councils.

CHN19b – School Attendance Rate for Looked After Children.

The 2022/23 rate for Orkney is equal to the Family Group average and above the Scotland rate.

Improving the attendance of care experienced children and young people is one of our priority stretch aims.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RATE - LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2010-11 to 2022-23. Orkney is 85.88% in 2022-23, approximately equal to the FG Median and above Scotland at approximately 84.4%. Orkney ranked 11th out of 32 Scottish Councils.

Priority: Developing Our Infrastructure

HSN3 – Percentage of Council Dwellings meeting Scottish Housing Quality Standards.

In 2023-2024, there was significant progress in the percentage of properties meeting the standard, with 80.38% of our properties achieving compliance, up from 52.82% in the previous year. In 2022/23 issues had been identified with our electrical installation condition reports (EICR). Following the implementation of a focused improvement plan, 99.2% of our properties held valid EICR certificates by 31 March 2024. Additionally, interlinked smoke alarms had been successfully installed in 98.2% of our properties. We continue to work closely with our tenants and contractors to address any residual issues.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “PERCENTAGE OF DWELLINGS MEETING SHQS” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2013-14 to 2023-24. Orkney is 80.38% in 2023-24; Scotland is approximately 78%; and the FG Median is approximately 74%. Orkney ranked 11th out of 32 Scottish Councils.

HSN5 – Percentage of Council Dwellings that are Energy Efficient.

Out of 1025 properties, 957 met the standard* on 31 March 2025. Of the remaining 68 properties, 34 were exempt or out of scope due to factors such as disproportionate cost or those in abeyance because the tenant has refused works to the property.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “PERCENTAGE OF COUNCIL DWELLINGS THAT ARE ENERGY EFFICIENT” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2015-16 to 2021-22. Orkney rises from approximately 69% to approximately 96%; Scotland rises from approximately 65% to 87.5%; and the FG Median rises from approximately 58% to 84.5%.

*See additional information on page 22

Priority: Transforming Our Council

CORP-ASSET1 – Proportion of Operational Buildings that are Suitable for their Current Use.

2024 figures for the suitability indicators are 90.8% if looked at from the point of numbers, but 93.94% if area-based e.g. Cursiter Quarry is now recorded as 9 assets, whereas before it was recorded as one. Properties scoring* ‘D’ are the Longhope Pier Weighbridge Building, two sheds, a store and the closed Former Papdale Halls of Residence.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “PROPORTION OF OPERATIONAL BUILDINGS THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR THEIR CURRENT USE” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2010-11 to 2023-24. Orkney is 90.82% in 2023-24, compared with approximately 85.5% for Scotland and 82.5% for the FG Median. Orkney ranked 13th out of 32 Scottish Councils.

*See additional information on page 22

FINSUS5 – Actual Outturn as a Percentage of Budgeted Expenditure.

The actual spend recorded in the Budget Outturn reports for 2023/24 was £104,923,600. The original 2023/24 budget was £100,981,000. A percentage spend against the original budget of 103.9%. The revised budget, including redeterminations and contributions from reserves, was £103,630,900 reducing the percentage spend against budget to 101.4%.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “ACTUAL OUTTURN AS A PERCENTAGE OF BUDGETED EXPENDITURE” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2013-14 to 2023-24. Orkney is 100% in 2023-24. The Orkney series varies between approximately 95.5% and 104.2%; Scotland is approximately 99.5% in 2023-24; and the FG Median is 100% in 2023-24. Orkney ranked 12th out of 32 Scottish Councils.

CORP6a – Sickness Absence Days per Teacher.

Sickness absence has increased since pre-covid levels, which is consistent with the picture elsewhere in the country. The Corporate Leadership Team have agreed to have a renewed focus on reducing absence, and new initiatives in terms of health and wellbeing continue to be rolled out to help support attendance.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “SICKNESS ABSENCE DAYS PER TEACHER” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2010-11 to 2023-24. Orkney is 10.76 days in 2023-24, compared with approximately 7.6 days for Scotland and 8.2 days for the FG Median. Orkney’s figure is the highest shown for the period.

CORP6b – Sickness Absence Days per Employee (Non-Teacher)

Sickness absence has increased since pre-covid levels, which is consistent with the picture elsewhere in the country. The Corporate Leadership Team have agreed to have a renewed focus on reducing absence, and new initiatives in terms of health and wellbeing continue to be rolled out to help support attendance.

IMAGE: A line chart titled “SICKNESS ABSENCE DAYS PER EMPLOYEE (NON-TEACHER)” compares Orkney Islands, Scotland and the FG Median from 2010-11 to 2023-24. Orkney is 14.13 days in 2023-24, compared with approximately 13.9 days for Scotland and 13.3 days for the FG Median. The Orkney figure rises sharply after 2020-21.

Local Government Benchmarking Framework

Additional notes on individual indicators

CORP-ASSET01 – Proportion of Operational Buildings that are Suitable for their Current Use:

This indicator reflects the extent to which buildings are suitable for use and delivery of services, and for individual buildings there are 4 categories defined:

A: Good - Performing well and operating effectively (physical element carries out function totally as new including consideration of the transverse elements),

B: Satisfactory - Performing adequately but showing minor deterioration (physical element carries out function satisfactorily, may show signs of age and including consideration of some transverse elements),

C: Poor - Showing major defects and/or not operating adequately (physical element does not carry out function effectively without continuous repair, shows signs of age and does not consider most of the transverse elements),

D: Bad - Economic life expired and/or risk of failure.

HSN5 – Percentage of Council Dwellings that are Energy Efficient.

The data for this indicator is based on the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH) which assesses a property’s efficiency in terms of the rating given on the property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC rating).

Further information about how the EESSH thresholds are set and the milestones for improvement are available on the Scottish Government’s website using the link below:

https://www.gov.scot/policies/home-energy-and-fuel-poverty/energy-efficiency-in-social-housing/