Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to the Council Plan 2016/2017 – 2020/2021 as a policy framework document.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Council Plan 2016/2017 – 2020/2021. The new Plan would act as the primary framework for setting the direction and vision of the Council over the medium term and it was proposed that the Plan would comprise three key priorities:

·                    Medway: A Place to be Proud Of

·                    Maximise Regeneration and Economic Growth

·                    Supporting Medway’s People to Realise Their Potential.

It was also proposed that the following key ways of working be adopted as part of the Council Plan:

·         Giving value for money

·         Digital services so good that everyone who can use them prefer to do so

·         Working in partnership where this benefits our residents.

The draft Plan had been considered by the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 2 February 2016 and Cabinet on 9 February, as detailed in paragraphs 5 and 7 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out on the proposals, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council agreed the Council Plan 2016/17 – 2020/21 and its component parts including:

·           Priorities and outcomes (shown in the diagram  in paragraph 3.3 of the report and within appendix 1 to the report)

·           Programmes (appendix 1 to the report)

·           Indicators and associated year 1 targets (appendix 2 to the report)

·           Ways of working to underpin how the council operates (paragraph 4 of the report).

b)    The Council agreed to grant delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources, to make any necessary changes to align the plan’s indicator set to the agreed budget, including to finalise the few remaining provisional targets by exception.

Background:

This report provided details of the proposals for the new Council Plan 2016/17 – 2020/21. This included the Plan’s objectives, key performance indicators, programmes and ways of working.

The report noted the intention to develop a more focused Council Plan that concentrated on the Council’s strategic ‘transformational’ activity. The intention was to deliver programmes over the life of the plan that would have a significant impact for local residents, whilst ensuring the services that matter most to local residents would be preserved.

The Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 2 February 2016 and its comments were set out in an addendum report. In addition, a revised Appendix 2 to the report was included in the addendum report, which included additional commentary explaining the rationale of the targets set for each indicator.

A Diversity Impact Assessment of the new Council Plan had been prepared with the report, in line with the Council’s established procedure for new strategic documents, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

It is a requirement of the Council’s policy framework rules that proposals are considered by Overview and Scrutiny and Cabinet prior to final consideration and approval by the Full Council.