1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1     The Council’s Strategic Plan sets the direction for the next five years and aligns with the Medium Term Financial Strategy.  The Strategic Plan 2015-20 (Appendix II) will be refreshed for 2016 to ensure that it continues to align and projects remain relevant.

1.2     The Council is facing a particularly challenging future with changes to funding from central government. The Council will remain objective led and outcome focussed.

1.3     The Policy and Resources Committee have the opportunity to shape the work that delivers the priority action areas for this Committee before the final draft document and complete action plan is presented to them for consideration following review and agreement by the other Committees.

1.4     The priority action areas for the Policy and Resources committee are

·         Promoting a range of employment opportunities and skills required across our Borough

·         Enhancing the appeal of the town centre for everyone

·         Providing a clean and safe environment (relates to one Crematorium project only)

1.5     The Committee are asked to review the projects and related draft action plan identifying any changes that they consider may be required. 

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

2.1     The Council’s current Strategic Plan 2015-20 was agreed in March 2015 and set two priorities:

1.   Keeping Maidstone Borough an attractive place for all

2.   Securing a successful economy for Maidstone Borough

2.2     With eight priority action areas:

·         Providing a clean and safe environment

·         Encouraging good health and wellbeing

·         Respecting the character of our Borough

·         Ensuring there are good leisure and cultural attractions

·         Enhancing the appeal of the town centre for everyone

·         Securing improvements to the transport infrastructure of our Borough

·         Promoting a range of employment opportunities and skills required across the Borough

·         Planning for sufficient homes to meet our Borough’s Needs

2.3     In September 2015 the Policy and Resource Committee agreed that the existing Strategic Plan would be refreshed to ensure that the actions and performance measures align with changes to the Budget Strategy.  

2.4     Chairmen and Vice Chairmen have already met with Head of Services and reviewed the proposed projects under the eight priority action areas and raised some areas for consideration.  The draft action plan can be seen at Appendix I.

2.5     The Policy and Resources Committee will receive the draft Strategic Plan 2016-17 refresh with the full completed action plan to review before it is presented to full Council in March 2016.

2.6     It should be noted that whilst the Council’s resources have been diminished as a result of the provisional local government finance settlement the ambition and aspiration to deliver our priorities remains. The Medium Term Financial Strategy remains aligned to the priorities and underpins their delivery.

3.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

3.1     The Committee reviews the projects and related actions plan and comments on areas for change or development, and help shape the Council’s Strategic Plan. This can be seen at Appendix I.

3.2     The Committee could decide not consider the update areas and defer any decision to the next Policy and Resources Committee in February when the draft Strategic Plan and related action plan will be considered.  This would reduce the time for officers to take on any recommendations made by the Committee to shape future direction. 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1     The Committee reviews the projects and related action plan, comments on areas for change or development helping shape the Council’s Strategic Plan.

5.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

5.1     This agenda item is the first part of the consultation with Members of this Committee before the full draft refreshed action plan is submitted in February prior to consideration by Full Council in March 2016. 

5.2     Residents were consulted on our strategic priorities as part of developing the Strategic Plan 2015-20.  Further consultation has now been undertaken through a resident survey, top ten results can be seen at Appendix III.

6.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

6.1     The full Strategic Plan 2015-20 (2016-17 refresh) will be reported to the Policy and Resources Committee along with any suggested changes from the Committee on 17 February 2016 and will be agreed at Full Council on
2 March 2016.

7.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·         Appendix I: Action Plan

·         Appendix II: Strategic Plan 2015-20

·         Appendix III: Resident Survey Results

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS