Issue - meetings

Further to minute 701 of 6 January 2015, to recommend the Council to approve the revised Corporate Plan for 2015-2018.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

That the revised Corporate Plan for 2015-2018 be approved, as set out in the appendix, subject to inclusion of a more specific target for businesses food safety compliance (target 2.1 under “improve and support the local economy”) and addition of clarification that “year” relates to financial year.

Further to minute 701 of 6 January 2015, the Cabinet considered the report circulated with the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes).

Mr Dignum introduced the report, explaining that the Corporate Plan was the broad framework for the Council’s policies. The review this year had been primarily an update of the existing Plan, in particular a careful review of the measurable targets. The four existing priorities were summarised on page 14 of the Agenda papers. The report recommended adding a fifth this year: ‘Prudent management of the council’s finances’. Everything the Council did should be subject to a financial soundness test because it was being trusted with residents’ money.

The objectives under each priority were also summarised on page 14, and then a series of targets were set out under each priority. Their attainment or otherwise would be a measure of whether the policies had made a useful difference.

Mr Barrow commended the Plan, but suggested that target 2.1 under ‘Improve and support the local economy’ (page 18), should be made more specific. It read “Increase the percentage of businesses achieving a rating of 3 or above for food safety compliance”. He would consult the Head of Housing and Environment Services and put forward a target percentage for inclusion in the Plan.

In answer to a question about monitoring of progress, Mr Mildred (Corporate Improvement Manager) explained that a six monthly report was made to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and results were also published in the Annual Report. The Cabinet suggested that a note should be added to the Corporate Plan to make it clear that, unless otherwise stated, references to ‘year’ related to ‘financial year (April to March)’.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

That the revised Corporate Plan for 2015-2018 be approved, as set out in the appendix, subject to inclusion of a more specific target for businesses food safety compliance (target 2.1 under “improve and support the local economy”) and addition of clarification that “year” relates to financial year.