Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE POLICY AND COMMUNITIES MANAGER

This report proposes a new Council Plan and process for finalising the Plan.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

(1)   The approval of the Council Plan (Appendix A) with the four new Council Priorities as outlined below:

· Thriving Communities

· Accessible Services

· Responsible Growth

· Sustainability

(2)   That authority be delegated to the Managing Director and Leader of the Council to approve any minor amendments to wording required as a result of the design process.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: The Council Plan is a key element of the corporate business planning process, as a high-level strategic document it sets out the Council’s Priorities for the next four years. As an overarching policy framework document, it guides and influences the use of Council resources; providing a focus for activities, plans, and services that the Council provide. The introduction to the plan highlights the link between the Council Plan and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and service delivery plans.

Audio recording – 20 minutes 01 seconds

The Chair invited Councillor Matt Barnes, as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to present the referral on this item. Councillor Barnes advised that there had been discussion about:

·       This was a good Plan which covered many initiatives and services provided. However, it was felt it could be improved by including some of the challenges faced by the Council and developing in more specific and measurable objectives.

·       Ongoing monitoring of achievements against the Council Plan would be conducted by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee throughout the life of the Plan.

The Leader of the Council presented the report entitled ‘The Council Plan 2024-2028’ and advised that:

·       The Council Plan should not be confused with the Council Delivery Plan which is a separate document which sat under the Council Plan. The Council Plan was an overarching strategic plan, while the Council Delivery Plan included measurables for specific projects.

·       The Council Plan sets out the vision and strategic priorities for the next four years. It highlighted some of the key projects that support these priorities.

·       A workshop was held in June which gave administration members an opportunity to share aspirations for the next four years.

·       Two subsequent workshops were held in July to narrow down priorities and select key projects to sit under each priority.

·       This draft was a plain text version and once the content is approved the plan would be formatted and signed.

·       The priorities of the Council Plan were, ‘Thriving Communities’, ‘Accessible Services’, ‘Responsible Growth’ and ‘Sustainability’.

The following Members asked questions:

·       Councillor Ian Albert

·       Councillor Tamsin Thomas 

·       Councillor Daniel Allen

In response to questions, the Policy and Strategy Team Leader advised that following recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

·       A diagram would be created during the design phase to lay out the relationship between the Council Plan, the Council Delivery Plan, the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and the Service Delivery Plans.

·       Further context around ‘net zero’ within the Sustainability priority will be incorporated during the design phase.

·       There would be an annual review of the Council Plan going forward.

·       It was agreed that key performance indicators and adding specific time frames were covered in the Council Delivery Plan.

·       A key challenge was mentioned in the introduction and more details of risks were covered in the risk register and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

The Chair thanked Councillors and the Officers involved for their hard work in producing this Council Plan.

Councillor Mick Debenham proposed and Councillor Tamsin Thomas seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

(1)   The approval of the Council Plan (Appendix A) with the four new Council Priorities as outlined below:

· Thriving Communities

· Accessible Services

· Responsible Growth

· Sustainability

(2)   That authority be delegated to the Managing Director and Leader of the Council to approve any minor amendments to wording required as a result of the design process.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: The Council Plan is a key element of the corporate business planning process, as a high-level  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50

REPORT OF THE POLICY AND COMMUNITIES MANAGER

This report proposes a new Council Plan and process for finalising the Plan. This is the plain-text version. Once the content is approved, the plan will be designed and formatted.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:

(1)   That Cabinet reviews and recommends the approval of the Council Plan to Full Council (Appendix A) with the four new Council Priorities as outlined below:

·       Thriving Communities

·       Accessible Services

·       Responsible Growth

·       Sustainability

(2)   Delegate authority to the Managing Director and Leader of the Council to approve any minor amendments to wording required as a result of the design process.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION: The Council Plan is a key element of the corporate business planning process, as a high level strategic document it sets out the Council’s Priorities for the next four years. As an overarching policy framework document, it guides and influences the use of Council resources; providing a focus for activities, plans, and services that the Council provide. The introduction to the plan highlights the link between the Council Plan and the Medium Term Financial Strategy and service delivery plans.

Audio recording – 47 minutes 02 seconds

Councillor Daniel Allen, as Leader of the Council, presented the report entitled ‘Council Plan 2024-2028’ and advised that:

·       The Council Plan sets out the vision and priorities of the administration over the next four years, as well as outlining key projects to support these.

·       The Council Delivery Plan (CDP) and Medium Term Financial Strategy would alight with this Council Plan.

·       There was a workshop held in June for members of the administration where aspirations for the next four years were discussed, and previous achievements were considered.

·       Following this a smaller working group was established to develop this, which included Officers and members of the administration, which was then followed up with two further administration workshops in July.

·       Officers from the Policy and Communications teams had been involved in the development of the Plan.

·       The version presented was a plain text version and further graphics and design would be added at a later stage.

·       The overarching theme was ‘Working with you for a fairer, greener North Herts’, with the four priorities being ‘Thriving Communities’, ‘Accessible Services’, ‘Responsible Growth’ and ‘Sustainability’.

The following Members asked questions:

·       Councillor Ralph Muncer

·       Councillor Laura Williams

·       Councillor Elizabeth Dennis

·       Councillor Martin Prescott

·       Councillor Tom Tyson

·       Councillor Matt Barnes

In response to questions, Councillor Daniel Allen advised that:

·       These four priorities had been chosen following evaluation of other Council Plans, consideration of national changes and what the Council wanted to offer. These were decided as achievable priorities over the next four years.

·       The Council had reopened the Council offices to the public, were available on the phone and Councillors were available in the community to engage with residents without, or with limited, digital access.

·       An annual review of the Plan could be brought to the Committee, should that be requested.

·       Finance was the biggest issue facing the delivery of the Plan.

·       A response on whether there were areas that would be reduced, with the adoption of the new Plan and its priorities, would be provided outside of the meeting.

In response to questions, the Policy and Strategy Team Leader advised that:

·       Responses from Round Two of the Community Survey had not been directly considered with the Plan, but the concepts and ideas have been addressed by some policies and actions within it.

·       The Plan did not include everything that would be done over the next four years, but the administration wanted to highlight the key areas where priority would be given, with further detail to be provide in service plans.

·       Projects to improve provision for young people had been addressed in the Plan.

·       The Plan noted that not all residents had digital access and the Policy team would flag any concerns regarding consultations or reviews where inadequate consideration to non-digital methods existed.

·       Support for businesses was included within the ‘Responsible Growth’ priority, which covered both developments, as well as economic growth. This included the Tourism and Town Centre strategies for engagement with business.

·       There were many projects which could fall  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35