MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
RECORD OF RECOMMENDATION OF THE Cabinet TO COUNCIL
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Recommendation Made: |
10 February 2010 |
STRATEGIC PLAN 2009-12 UPDATE FOR 2010-11
Issue for Decision
To consider the proposed final draft of the authority’s 2010-11 update of the Strategic Plan 2009-12.
Recommendations Made
1. That the proposed 2010-11 update of the Strategic Plan 2009-12 (as attached at Appendix A) be adopted.
2. That the Key Objectives, actions and performance indicators (as attached at Appendix B) be agreed.
Reasons for Recommendation
The Cabinet met on 10 February 2010 and considered the report of Corporate Management Team. The Cabinet resolved at that meeting to make the above recommendations to Council.
The Strategic Plan is the Council’s medium term strategy which sets the overall direction of the authority for the next three years. It is a rolling three year document updated on an annual basis to ensure that actions, performance indicators and targets remain relevant.
Cabinet agreed in August to retain the Strategic Plan 2009-12 and produce a 2010-11 update. It was agreed that the update would include:
· A review of all the key objectives and associated actions;
· An update of what we achieved in the year (in 2009/10 we…);
· An update to any local or national context where relevant; and
· An update to the foreword.
Cabinet has highlighted that its overall priority is prosperity and regeneration and that its three flagship schemes are:
· Maidstone Museum extension;
· Mote Park improvements; and
· High Street Regeneration.
In December Cabinet agreed the proposed changes to the key objectives. In formulating these key objectives efforts have been made to ensure that there is continuity, which reflects the fact that the priorities of the administration have not changed. The revised set of draft key objectives are more outcome focused and strategic. Some of the key objectives have been merged to reduce duplication. Whilst the wording is different, they do not represent a major departure in terms of overall strategic direction.
Officers have, in the intervening months, been working on developing actions that will deliver on these objectives. The Policy and Performance Team and the Head of Finance have worked together to ensure that the Medium Term Financial Strategy and the Council’s key objectives are integrated and reflect the Cabinet’s priorities. The Key Objectives in the Strategic Plan have informed the Budget Strategy so that resources to deliver the Strategic Plan have been included in the budget.
The Key Objectives and actions are shown at Appendix B. The plan is supported by a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that measure progress on the Key Objectives that is also shown at Appendix B.
A draft Strategic Plan was considered by Cabinet on 16 December 2009 and the document then went out to consultation. Feedback on the decision to update the document has been viewed positively and the comments received from the consultation have been particularly useful in ensuring the document remains up to date and relevant.
Cabinet requested that as part of the 2010-11 update the photos within the Strategic Plan are refreshed. The photos will be updated prior to the printing process.
Alternatives considered and why not recommended
The authority could decide not to produce a Strategic Plan, but this would result in a lack of strategic direction, affecting the effectiveness and efficiency of the Council.
The authority could decide that the Strategic Plan does not need to be updated but in order to ensure that the authority’s objectives fit with the wider community and other partners and to clarify who is doing what by when the document is essential.
The Council could decide to further change the content or develop an alternative approach, however, this is not recommended as the current format, design and information has been received positively by Members, residents, partners and officers and the development and design of a new document will require additional resources and would the document would not be ready in time for the new financial year.
Background Papers
Report to Cabinet 8 April 2009: Strategic Plan 2009-12;
Report to Cabinet 12 August 2009: Strategic Planning Process; and
Report to Cabinet 16 December 2009: Strategic Plan 2009-12 update 2010-11.