Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Assets (copy enclosed) on the draft Corporate Plan prior to its submission to Council.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       approves the near final draft Corporate Plan for submission to County Council on 17 October 2017 and recommends its adoption subject to (1) final refinement of wording, and (2) inclusion of a supporting financial plan, and

(b)       confirms it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix B to the report) as part of its consideration.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill presented the draft Corporate Plan for consideration by Cabinet prior to its submission to Council on 17 October 2017.

The last Council had largely delivered a very ambitious Corporate Plan demonstrating its ambition and commitment to delivering on its priorities.  The priorities in the draft Corporate Plan covered Housing; Younger People: Connected Communities; Resilient Communities and the Environment and had been identified following a comprehensive process of evidence-gathering and analysis and in-depth consultation with communities (County Conversation), partners and elected members.  If the Plan was adopted it should be possible to deliver most of the actions subject to the availability of funding for particular projects and a supporting Financial Plan would be included as part of the Corporate Plan document submitted to Council.  Cabinet’s attention was also drawn to the key principles within the Plan covering Equalities and Welsh Language together with governance arrangements going forward including scrutiny and monitoring.  Finally Councillor Thompson-Hill reminded members of his offer to meet with political groups to further discuss the Corporate Plan and provided assurances that important issues raised by members during the consultation process which had not been specifically included within the Plan would have been captured elsewhere within service business plans.

The Leader referred to the consultation process and outcomes within the Corporate Plan which demonstrated that the Council had listened and responded to the issues raised.  He welcomed and supported the Plan as a means of delivering on residents’ expectations of a local authority and making a difference in communities.  He was satisfied that important issues not included as specific priorities in the Plan would still be addressed highlighting the economic strategy as a prime example.

Members discussed the report further with the Lead Member and the Head of Business Improvement and Modernising as follows –

·         Cabinet had been pleased to note the open and transparent consultation process resulting in a Plan which would make a real difference to residents and agreed the draft Corporate Plan maintained the Council’s ambitions but was also realistic.  It was suggested that reference to the County Conversation be made at the beginning of the document to set the context and show that residents’ views had been valued and taken into account in formulating the Plan

·         Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts highlighted that bold decisions needed to be made in order to deliver the Plan, using decisions relating to housing developments as a prime example, and he asked that all elected members be made fully aware of their role within the process and the commitment required to ensure successful delivery of the Plan

·         Councillor Bobby Feeley particularly welcomed the inclusion and remit of Environment as a priority and officers advised that it had been a key theme from young people during the County Conversation

·         there was some discussion about how to express what the Council hoped to achieve with particular reference to the Plan’s wording “we will” given that actions to meet particular achievements were outside of the Council’s control and the responsibility of other organisations.  It was accepted that there were some areas which were not solely within the Council’s control, however the Council could influence and be a driver to ensure outcomes were achieved and it was hoped the wording would reflect the Council’s intention and will to achieve a particular outcome despite there being no guarantee

·         reference was made to the key principle to work to ensure the Welsh Language thrived in Denbighshire and the need to further drive this forward and officers advised that the Plan reflected the Council’s position and strategies and ambition to improvement in that area.  The Leader referred to the establishment of a Welsh Language Steering Committee to take matters forward and highlighted the need for inclusion and development of the Welsh Language with non-Welsh speakers as part of that process.  Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts was pleased the Welsh Language had been recognised within the Plan and highlighted the need to change the culture and ethos to ensure that Welsh Language was embedded in everyday life.  In response to calls from Councillor Arwel Roberts for new schools to be bilingual, Councillor Hilditch-Roberts indicated his support for bilingual schools and reported upon requests to the Welsh Government to clarify language categorisations given the confusion in that regard

·         in response to a request to further engage with Town/City/Community Councils, Councillor Richard Mainon advised that he was looking at how Town/City/Community Councils could be brought into the process and help aid with delivery of the Corporate Plan

·         members also made reference to individual achievements highlighted within the Plan and officers provided an explanation as to their inclusion and likelihood of them being delivered including references to affordable housing; bringing back empty homes into use; reducing the number of properties at risk of flooding and increasing the number of trees in Rhyl and Denbigh.  It was also clarified that the development of cycling routes would be considered under the Connected Communities theme and sustainable travel.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       approves the near final draft Corporate Plan for submission to County Council on 17 October 2017 and recommends its adoption subject to (1) final refinement of wording, and (2) inclusion of a supporting financial plan, and

(b)       confirms it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix B to the report) as part of its consideration.

At this juncture 11.35 a.m. the meeting adjourned for a refreshment break.