Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED:      That the corporate business plan be adopted to include amendments to the dates in the Plan to ensure the lifespan of the Plan takes it to 2020.

Reason for Decision

To establish the Council’s policy framework for the term of the current administration, showing how the council will focus its resources over the next four years. The R&P Panel had drawn attention to the date span of the document which would be updated accordingly.  It was agreed that the name of the document would remain as recommended, as it signposted to related documents.

Councillor Daubney presented a report which set out the proposed corporate business plan for the four-year administrative term 2015/16 to 2019/20. The Plan had been informed by an assessment of local need, local political priorities and the changing policy framework within which the Council operated. He commended the document as being much more succinct and easy to read than previous versions as it  had been developed in a more focused format as much of the detail underpinning the strategy already existed in other documents. There was a short narrative which set out the direction of travel and the context within which the organisation operated.

The six priority areas covered the Council’s internal focus on service delivery (providing important local services within our available resources), community focus (economic and housing growth, clean and safe communities, local heritage and culture) and focus on West Norfolk as a place (standing up for local interests, working with our local partners).

The Executive Director, D Gates explained that the Plan would feed into all priorities within the organisation and down through to the targets of all staff.

Councillor Blunt asked how could it be ensured that everyone was aware of the document, to which it was explained that once formally approved it there would be a communication plan for its dissemination.

Councillor Beales drew attention to the debate on the item at the Resources and Performance Panel where the title of the report had been discussed.  He drew attention to the comment that it wasn't a Business Plan which could be presented as such, but drew attention to the fact that the document clearly made reference to a suite of documents which supported it.  He felt it clearly laid out what the Administration wanted to achieve. 

In referring to the comments made at the Panel meeting, it was noted that the document would be updated to ensure it encompassed 2015/2020.  Cabinet was content to leave the Business Plan with its existing title as other documents were signposted from it clearly within the document.

RECOMMENDED:      That the corporate business plan as now amended be adopted.