Issue - meetings

It was moved by Councillor Moss, seconded by Councillor Garland, that the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the refreshed Strategic Plan 2014-15 be approved.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the refreshed Strategic Plan 2014-15, attached as Appendix A to the report of the Cabinet, be approved.

2.  That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make minor amendments to the document as required.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive regarding the refreshed Strategic Plan 2014-15.

RESOLVED:

1.  That subject to typographical amendments and the results of the budget consultation being factored in, the refreshed Strategic Plan 2014-15 be approved for submission to Council.

2.  That the response to the recommendations made by the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee arising from its consideration of the refreshed Strategic Plan 2014-15 be noted. 

3.  That it be noted that the performance measures and targets in the Plan will be updated and reported as part of the annual performance management cycle at the end of the financial year following consultation with the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

4.  To RECOMMEND to COUNCIL:

  a)  That the refreshed Strategic Plan 2014-15 be approved; and

b)  That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to make minor amendments to the document as required.

Interview with Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy and Communications.

Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy and Communications was invited to introduce the Strategic Plan Refresh 2014-15.

The Committee was informed of the following:

·  The document was a refresh not a redraft;

·  The number of indicators that would be reported at a strategic level had been reduced from 70 to 46; and

·  A new Strategic Plan would be produced for the period 2015-2020.

Mrs Woodhouse asked the Committee if it would like to be involved in a focus group to look at reducing the number performance indicators in the Strategic Plan.  All members of the Committee volunteered to take part in a session to look at this.

A member of the Committee queried the dates for outcomes relating to the corporate priority ‘For Maidstone to be a decent place to live.’ Concerns were raised  about the key projects and plans to deliver the outcome ‘By 2015 residents in Maidstone are not disadvantaged because of where they live or who they are, vulnerable people are assisted and the level of deprivation is reduced’ on page 118 of the agenda extending beyond the current strategy date of 2015.

Mrs Woodhouse told the Committee that the priority in itself was an ambitious one and achieving some of the outcomes included in the strategy could stretch beyond 2015 and beyond.  It was recommended that Mrs Woodhouse identify with the appropriate Maidstone Borough Council departments which specific actions would be achieved by 2015 so that some clarity could be given in the report to Cabinet.

A member commented on the section ‘Customer care and engagement’ (page 130 of the agenda) and the Council’s relationship with parishes which had been put under strain in recent years.  It was felt that ways in which to strengthen relationships with Parish Councils should be addressed and included in this section.

Page 101 of the document referenced the Autumn Statement 2012, the Committee requested that be updated following the recent Autumn Statement 2013.

RESOLVED: that

a)  A focus group, consisting of all members of the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny committee, be arranged to look at reducing the number of Performance Indicators included in the Strategic Plan;

b)  The Head of Policy and Communications identifies with the appropriate Maidstone Borough Council departments which specific actions can be achieved by 2015 in relation to the priority outcome ‘By 2015 residents in Maidstone are not disadvantaged because of where they live or who they are, vulnerable people are assisted and the level of deprivation is reduced’ so that clarity on what is achievable can be provided in the report to Cabinet;

c)  Ways in which to strengthen relationships with Parish Councils should be addressed and included in the ‘Customer care and engagement’ section of the Strategic Plan; and

d)  References to the Autumn Statement 2012 are updated within the Strategic Plan to 2013.

a)  That the refreshed Strategic Plan 2014-15, attached as Appendix A to the report of the Chief Executive, be agreed for consultation and consideration by the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee subject to the following:

Page 30 of the agenda - Outcome: By 2015 Maidstone has decent, affordable housing in the right places across a range of tenures

  Second paragraph – Amend the first and second sentences to read:

  The independent housing needs analysis conducted as part of the Local Plan process identifies that Maidstone has an objectively assessed housing need of 19,600 new dwellings from 2011-2031.  The Council will be working to get a suitable housing target agreed.

b)  That it be noted that the performance measures and targets in the plan will be further updated and reported as part of the annual performance management cycle at the end of the financial year.

DECISION MADE:

a)  That the refreshed Strategic Plan 2014-15, attached as Appendix A to the report of the Chief Executive, be agreed for consultation and consideration by the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee subject to the following:

Page 30 of the agenda - Outcome: By 2015 Maidstone has decent, affordable housing in the right places across a range of tenures

  Second paragraph – Amend the first and second sentences to read:

  The independent housing needs analysis conducted as part of the Local Plan process identifies that Maidstone has an objectively assessed housing need of 19,600 new dwellings from 2011-2031.  The Council will be working to get a suitable housing target agreed.

b)  That it be noted that the performance measures and targets in the plan will be further updated and reported as part of the annual performance management cycle at the end of the financial year.

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