Agenda item

Resolved to recommend:

 

·        the Corporate Plan 2015 to 2020 for adoption

Decision

 

Resolved to recommend:

 

1.     the Corporate Plan 2015 to 2020 for adoption

 

Reason for Decision

To seek Cabinet approval for the referral of the Council’s new Corporate Plan – 2015 to 2020 to Council for approval

 

Implications

 

Financial

 

The plan sets out the priorities and vision for the organisation over the next five years. As a result it will inform and shape the strategic and financial decision making process of the organisation, including our Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). 

 

Value for Money

 

A key priority within the plan is ‘Delivering an Efficient and Modern Council’.

 

This will ensure that we focus on achieving the Council’s savings and priorities while maintaining quality and protecting frontline services.   

 

Risk Implications

 

Risk Assessment completed on 18^th January 

 

Risk 1

 

The plan sets out the priorities and vision for the Council over the next five years and frames the operational and financial planning.

 

Without a clear and considered document, there is a risk that we will start to work in a way that does not meet the expectations and needs of residents or Members.

 

Risk 2

 

The lack of a plan would increase uncertainty and makes it difficult for teams focus their attention and resources in the right area.

 

One of the key elements within a plan is to set out the priorities that the Council needs to address.

Risk 3 

 

The plan also provides a series of key performance indicators enabling us to chart our progress.

 

Without an effective plan it is possible that we may be working in a way that causes duplication, waste or poor performance. 

 

Corporate Objectives

The Corporate Plan will support all five of the Council’s corporate objectives:

 

1. Clean and safe environment

2. Community capacity

3. Regeneration

4. Dacorum delivers

5. Affordable housing

 

It sets out the updated priorities for the Council.

 

Advice

 

The Leader of the Council said that the Corporate Plan sets out the priorities for the next few years and gives a focal point. The policies are ongoing and therefore the priorities were similar to previous years but do include projects for the future.

He added that it would be made available online.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Housing asked if the council had sold 500 houses as previously it stated we owned 10,500 but now states 10,000.

The Chief Executive said the figure better reflected the situation over the 5 years of the plan. She also highlighted that the priority titles had been changed to reflect a more accessible and action-orientated plan.

 

The Leader of the Council pointed out some minor amendments to the table showing the previous priority titles. The Chief Executive agreed to have these altered.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Environmental, Sustainability & Regulatory Services referred to the ‘About Dacorum’ section of the plan and asked if the figures shown for recycling, population and adventure playgrounds were for the calendar year or financial year for 2014. She asked if more current figures were available.

It was noted that funding would be received for a specific year; however this plan covered a few years. She felt that the figure for funding shown in pounds and pence would be better shown as a percentage.

 

The Leader of the Council explained that the funding figures were an accurate reflection of the council’s position and he felt that the figures were more meaningful shown in pounds and pence rather than a percentage.

The Assistant Director for Performance and Projects noted that the figures were for 2014/15 and he would therefore look into 2015/16 figures.

 

The Leader of the council suggested including a footnote on the ‘About Dacorum’ page along with the others, to explain the dates the figures were obtained.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Environmental, Sustainability & Regulatory Services disagreed with the wording shown in the ‘Looking Forward’ section that ‘the traditional view of the council as a one-stop provider of services is unrealistic’ and felt ‘one-stop’ should be replaced.

It was agreed that ‘one stop’ would be replaced with ‘main’.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Environmental, Sustainability & Regulatory Services referred to the ‘Building strong and vibrant communities’ section and asked if indeed ‘we’ had delivered superfast broadband as it states, as she thought BT did this?

The leader of the Council confirmed that BT did indeed lay the cables but DBC paid for it.

 

The Chief Executive suggested adding a publication date to the document, to illustrate when the figures were obtained.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning & Regeneration felt that the picture of the Maylands Business Centre included in the plan was not very relevant to the text on the same page.

The Portfolio Holder for Residents & Corporate Services noted that it referred to the text shown on the following page.

The Assistant Director for performance and Projects would amend this illustration.

 

Consultation

Consultation took place with:

·        Corporate Management Team

·                 Dacorum Borough Council Officers

 

Voting

 

None.