Agenda item

To consider a report by the Strategic Planning Team Manager (copy attached) for Members to approve the final draft version of the Corporate Plan 2017-2022.

The Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, introduced the Corporate Plan 2017-2022 report (previously circulated).

It was a statutory requirement that Local Authorities published an Improvement Plan and also Well-being Objectives.  Denbighshire’s Corporate Plan 2017-2022 served both of those functions.

The key pledges which the Local Authority were committed to, to achieve in the Plan were important because they either:

·       Required significant capital / revenue funding: e.g. roads and new schools although not everything required extra funding.

·       Require significant cultural / organisational change: e.g. the way the Local Authority engaged with communities, and / or

·       Will impact across the whole county e.g. 1000+ extra homes.

The priorities outlined in the Corporate Plan had been arrived at via a thorough and clear process of evidence-gathering and analysis (Well-being Assessment) and in-depth consultation with communities (County Conversation).

The total cost of the Plan had been estimated as £135 million but this would change as details developed.  Significant items within the Plan, such as the next band of school improvement proposals, assumed contributions from the Welsh Government to progress.

Budget decisions would become more difficult in the next few years so the Plan would need to be flexible enough to respond to financial challenges.  No investment would be made without a clear, affordable business case having been agreed following the council’s approval process.

During discussion, the following issues were raised:

·       It was confirmed that Programme Boards would assess how to best deliver on the Plan.  Wider groups, SIG and Scrutiny to ensure delivery of the issues raised.

·       The Programme Boards would be executive bodies who implement decisions, not make decisions.  The responsibility for steering implementation would be down to the Lead Members.  The process of decision making would not be changed, they would go through the usual process via Cabinet, Council etc.

·       It was confirmed that the Programme Boards were a high level delivery model.  Part of the role within the model would be Scrutiny who would be able to call in any item at any time.  Regarding the housing element, Lead Member Councillor Brian Jones, who was a Rhyl Local Member, would be a member of the Board.

·       It was confirmed that transport would always be a high priority area for the Local Authority. 

·       Highway cleanliness was also important and was part of the Business Service Plan.   It was confirmed that not everything was mentioned fully within the Plan as that would mean the document would be too large.

·       It was confirmed that 1000 additional houses would be built in the future, in addition 500 empty property would be brought back into use.  The 500 empty properties would be a rolling process.  The Council intended building 170 of the 1000 houses together with affordable housing element provided by developers.

·       Additional investment in roads, pavements and bridges was raised. Within connected communities, there had been a specific area regarding roads and bridges.  Maintenance of the roads within the county had always been a high priority and work was carried out with the resources available.  It was confirmed, at this point, that the issue of funding for highways would be raised with the Head of Highways & Environmental Services.

·       Mental Health was one of the pressures on both the Local Authority and the Health Sector.   It was confirmed that direct Mental Health services were not within the control of the Local Authority.  In future years, improved liaison with the Health Board would be put in place.

·       The Lead Member for Finance confirmed that the Local Authority did not receive funding direct from Europe.  The Welsh Government received European funding which was then distributed.   He also stated he would attend Member Area Group meetings to go into more detail of European funding from the Welsh Government if required.

·       Young people who attained high examination results were found to leave the area which caused a problem.   A model to retain these young people in local areas would be continued to be looked at.

·       The fact that the bus service had been withdrawn from Dyserth High Street was raised.  It was requested by the Local Councillor, David Williams that it be raised as a priority within the next year.

RESOLVED that:

·       Subject to any agreed changes, that Members approve the final draft of the Corporate Plan 2017-2011 to enable the document to be translated and published

·       That Members confirm they have read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment as part of its consideration.