MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET

8 AUGUST 2012

REPORT OF HEAD OF CHANGE AND SCRUTINY

Report prepared by Ellie Kershaw 

1.                    CORPORATE PLANNING TIMETABLE

1.1                 Issue for Decision

1.1.1            The Strategic Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy are key elements of the corporate planning framework for the council.  They are also a key part of the ‘golden thread’ which runs from the vision for the borough set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy through to Corporate priorities and outcomes and targets for individuals in appraisals.

1.1.2            Cabinet is asked to agree the timetable for corporate planning for 2013-14.

1.2                 Recommendation of Head of Change and Scrutiny

1.2.1            It is recommended that Cabinet agree to update the strategic plan and the corporate planning timetable as set out in the report.

1.3                 Reasons for Recommendation

1.3.1            The corporate planning process within the Council ensures the overall vision for the borough is delivered.  The priorities and outcomes in the Strategic Plan are developed alongside the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to ensure a consistent approach between service delivery and budgets.  Service planning allows the Council to convert high level objectives from the Strategic Plan into actions for each directorate, service or team across the Council, which then feeds into individual staff appraisals.

1.3.2            On 12 August 2009 Cabinet agreed to decide annually whether to update the existing Strategic Plan or to create a new one.  Following extensive change in the national arena it was agreed to write a new Strategic Plan 2011/12 to take the Council through to 2015 alongside the MTFS.  It is recommended that as the plan is only 2 years into its 4 year life, the plan for 2011-15 is updated for 2013-14.  The update will include the work of the Cabinet on the future shape of the organisation and medium term planning and prioritisation of the actions required to achieve the outcomes outlined in the Strategic Plan.

1.3.4       An update would include:

·         A review of all the outcomes and associated actions;

·         An update of performance against the Key Performance indicators;

·         An update of what was achieved in the year (in 2012/13 we…);

·         An update to any local or national context where relevant;

·         An update to the foreword; and

·         An update on the Sustainable Community Strategy refresh if available, including a decision on whether it will be amended to become the main document for the Locality Board, renamed the Community Strategy.

1.3.4       The following timetable is proposed for the development of the 2013/14 update.

1.4        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

1.4.1   Cabinet could decide to produce a full new Strategic Plan for 2013-17.  This is not recommended as a new strategic plan was only created two years ago.

1.4.2   Alternatively, Cabinet could decide that the Council already has a four year plan in place and therefore there is no reason to produce either an update or another full document.  This is not recommended as the local and national context is constantly changing and the Council needs to be able to demonstrate how it is planning and managing the issues arising from these changes. 

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

1.5.1   The Corporate Planning process is centred on identifying and achieving the Council’s corporate priorities and outcomes.

1.6        Risk Management

1.6.1   Risks associated with the delivery of the Strategic Plan will be set out in the Strategic Risk Management Plan and operationally through the service planning process.

1.7        Other Implications

1.7.1    

1.8        Relevant Documents

1.8.1   Appendices

None

1.8.2   Background Documents

Strategic Plan 2011-15

Sustainable Community Strategy

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT? x     Yes                                               No     If yes, when did it first appear in the Forward Plan?   …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..     This is a Key Decision because: ………………………………………………………………………..   …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….       Wards/Parishes affected: …………………………………………………………………………………..   ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..