Issue - meetings

Councillor Burton, the Leader of the Council, introduced the report proposing refreshed areas of focus for the Council’s Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2028 highlighting that:

·  The proposed areas of focus reflected the long-term ambitions of the Council whilst also responding to the current national and local environment including recovery from the pandemic, increased housing need, financial insecurity and the climate crisis.

·  The wording of the current area of focus relating to the implementation of the biodiversity and climate change strategy and action plan had been amended to emphasise that the impact on climate change and biodiversity would be central to all decisions.

·  The shortage of temporary accommodation for homeless families was recognised together with the need to increase supply and work towards long-term housing solutions.

·  The commitment to identify and deliver 1,000 affordable homes was now included together with the commitment to improve the quality of housing through the consistent use of the Council’s statutory powers to promote good health and wellbeing.

·  The commitment to the development of an ambitious Town Centre Strategy, which was now underway, was also referenced together with the use of various funding streams supporting leisure and culture.

During the discussion:

·  Members expressed support for the changes to include identification and delivery of 1,000 affordable homes as an area of focus and the commitment to biodiversity and climate change.

·  The Committee noted that when ‘Working with community groups and parish councils to develop more sustainable community resilience and to encourage pride in our borough’ had been merged into a new action under Homes and Communities at 4.3, ‘pride in our borough’ had not been included and requested this be added.

·  The Officers confirmed that presentational issues identified by Members would be rectified in the version of the document to be submitted to the Executive, including the use of abbreviations.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE EXECUTIVE:  That subject to the points raised in the discussion, the proposed refreshed areas of focus for the Council’s Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2028, set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved.

Note:  Councillor Hastie entered the meeting during consideration of this item (6.47 p.m.).  She said that she had no disclosures of interest or of lobbying.