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Agenda item

Development of the New Strategic Plan

Minutes:

Mrs Alison Broom, the Chief Executive and Mrs Angela Woodhouse, the Head of Policy, Communications and Governance presented a report on the development of the new Strategic Plan.

The Committee was asked to consider the draft vision, objectives and outcomes as set out in the report which would also be presented to the other Service Committees during October.

The Committee made the following comments:-

Draft Vision/Objectives	Suggested Changes/Actions	Comments/Clarity of Language
Draft Vision – “A borough of opportunity that works for everyone that residents are proud to be part of	“A borough of opportunity that works for everyone and that residents are proud to be part of”	Something that embraces all of our communities e.g. diversity, visitors, workforces
Objective 1 – Great Environmental Quality
The borough’s bio-diversity and green corridors are improved	“The borough’s bio-diversity is improved”	The term ‘green corridors’ does not make provision for the waterways. Therefore this should be incorporated into the sub-text as the green and blue.
More residents participate in taking care of the environment	No change
The carbon footprint of the borough is reduced	No change	Officers to feature trees more prominently in the sub-text The provision of more trees came out of the Member workshop and should be in the sub-text
Everyone has access to high quality and attractive parks and green spaces	No change
More waste is treated locally and used as valuable resource	“More waste is treated locally and used as a valuable resource	Textual change
A borough which is recognised as being clean and well cared for	No change
Objective 2 – Well Connected Safe and Empowered Communities
A borough where more people feel safe	Officers to change the wording	Members felt that the wording as it stood suggested that people did not feel safe already. Officers to find a better form of words to reflect intention.
The harm caused by crime and anti-social behaviour is reduced	No change
More investment in community infrastructure	No change	Members felt that the Council needed to be creative in the use of funding activities not just infrastructure
A diverse range of community activity enabled by the Council	No change
A borough with more neighbourhood plans	No change
Community creativity is encouraged and enabled	No change	Inclusion of use of S106 money as a how under outcomes.
		Community based outcomes could be simplified to one or two outcomes
Objective 3 – Embracing Growth
New places are created that are well designed and connected	No change	That this means the development of infrastructure first should be created first should be more explicit
The Council leads the master planning and invests in the creation of new places	No change
All new homes are built to a high quality of environmental and renewable building standards	No change
The housing need is met for all	No change	Officers to be more explicit about the difference between this and a decent home.
Communities are engaged in planning growth of their place	No change
Objective 4 – Renowned for Heritage and Culture (should be changed to “Renowned for our Heritage and Culture)
The value of tourism is increased		That this should be under the objective for a thriving economy And/or use of heritage culture and arts to regenerate the economy
Well established and promoted cultural quarter	No change	Make a judgement on whether we mention the Museum and others
A destination that hosts high quality festivals and events and celebrates diversity	“A destination that promotes quality festivals and events and celebrates diversity, or put ‘a borough that celebrates its diversity’ into one of its own	This incorporates the smaller events and takes focus off us having to start
Increased resident participation in cultural and heritage activities	“Increased participation in arts, leisure and sports and cultural heritage activities across all age groups	Need to incorporate all activities
		Inclusion of new outcome ‘ A borough which celebrates its diversity’ to reflect all of maidstone’s communities
Everyone knows we are the County town of Kent	Officers to reword to incorporate Maidstone’s cultural offer across the borough	Officers to speak to Head of Economic Development and Regeneration for a suitable change of words
		It was noted that the museum wasn’t included in here but other sites were included elsewhere. Officers will review and decide that either all sites are included or no sites at all.
		On the whole the Objective does not have enough emphasis on getting the people in the borough to have a pride and sense of place
Objective 5 – A Decent Home for Everyone (needs to change to “A Good Home for Everyone”)
Homelessness and rough sleeping is prevented	No change
Residents have a decent home		Officers to change the wording, homes need to be built fit for purpose – pick up the spirit of a ‘good’ home Members felt that a decent home did not illustrate this point well enough
The borough has a range of housing type and tenure to meet residents needs	No change
The accommodation needs of the Gypsy and Traveller community are met	No change
We have enabled and delivered affordable housing	No change
Objective 6 – Better Transport Systems
The transport system supports the growth in homes and jobs	“The growth in homes and jobs are supported by an integrated transport system”	Members felt that this needed to be more clearly defined
Sustainable travel options are invested in and improved	“Sustainable travel options are improved”	Take out the word invested as it could be construed by the public that the Council would be providing the investment. Investment should be included in the how.
Greater joined up decision making for transport	“More productive joined up decision making for transport, working with partners”	To give greater clarity that the Council works with partners to achieve this. Cycling to be included in the how.
The air quality impacts of transport are reduced	No change
Objective 7 – People Fulfil their Potential
Deprivation is reduced	No change
Skills levels and earning potential of our residents are raised		Officers to specify adults and children to give more emphasise to education. Overall education is missing.
Health and well-being inequalities are reduced	No change
Social mobility is improved	No change
Objective 8 – A Thriving Economy
Business start ups and survival rates are improved and we are the best in Kent		Officers to reword the outcome to change the phrase ‘survival rate’ Quality apprenticeships should be reflected in the how. Volunteering to be reflected in the how.
A revitalised town centre	“A revitalised county town and villages”
Improved high speed broadband	“Improved high speed broadband and future technology embraced digital infrastructure”
The Kent Medical Campus is delivered	For further consideration	Members were not clear why this should be specifically mentioned and wanted this to be revisited in the round

RESOLVED: That the comments on the draft vision, objectives and outcomes from this Committee be presented to Policy and Resources Committee as part of the development of the new Strategic Plan.

Voting: Unanimous

Supporting documents: