To comment on the report to be considered by Cabinet on the 26 November 2015.

The Strategic Director of Operations, Simon Fletcher, explained that the report proposed a new four-year strategic plan for the Royal Borough.  It was noted that the plan set out the Council’s vision to make the Royal Borough a great place to live, work, play and do business.  Members were informed that the four strategic priorities underpinning the vision were carried through from the Council’s previous strategic plan because they remained relevant.  The Strategic Director of Operations explained that the four strategic priorities, which staff delivered against daily, were: Residents First, Value for Money, Delivering Together and Equipping Ourselves for the Future.

The Strategic Director of Operations explained that the paper recommended that Cabinet approved the draft plan, attached at Appendix A, and send it to full Council for their consideration on 15 December 2015.

In the ensuing discussion the following points / comments were noted:

Ø  That the Council Strategic Plan was a very important document that allowed the Council to effectively allocate resources and set expectations.

Ø  That the Strategic Director of Operations would welcome Members views on how close the report was to meeting their aspirations.

Ø  Superintendent Rai stated that this was probably the simplest and most straight forward strategic plan she had seen to date. 

Ø  Page 2 of the Plan – it was queried whether the Council could deliver ‘Residents will enjoy healthy lifestyles and be supported into old age.’

Ø  Page 2 of the Plan – it was requested that ‘Residents will enjoy vibrant town centres benefitting from Crossrail and other major infrastructure investments while retaining the unique character of our towns, villages and green belt countryside’ be reworked.

Ø  Page 6 of the Plan – that business community resilience be included along with the part the businesses play (r.e. safer communities and improving business economies).

Ø  That an A5 version of the Plan be sent out with the Council Tax document in April.

Ø  Page 6 of the Plan – It was queried what indicated success with regard to ‘Number of families supported by the Intensive Family Support Programme’. 

Ø  Page 2 of the Plan – that ‘More residents will have the opportunity to own their own home’ be moved somewhere more appropriate in the document.

Ø  Page 6 of the Plan – be amended to read ‘We will work to safeguard our residents’. 

Ø  Page 8 of the Plan – that ‘CIL review once increased numbers of residents helped on to the housing ladder’ be reworded.

Ø  Page 9 of the Plan – that a link be added to the transformation programme / Corporate Project tracker.

Ø  Page 6 of the Plan – that the Police be included.

Ø  That ‘partnerships’ were not really mentioned in the document.

Ø  Page 7 of the Plan – The ‘Amount of external funding drawn down’ be reworded.

UNANIMOUSLEY AGREED; The Crime & Disorder Overview & Scrutiny Panel unanimously agreed to recommend to Cabinet the following:

i.     Approve the draft Council Strategic Plan 2016-2020 and recommends it proceed to Council for their consideration on 15 December 2015.

ii.    Delegate authority to the Managing Director and Leader of the Council in consultation with the Principal Member for Policy to make alterations to the proposed plan ahead of its submission to Council.