Agenda item

To consider a report by the Corporate Improvement Team Manager (copy enclosed) which sought approval of the final draft version of the Corporate Plan 2012/17

A copy of a report by the Corporate Improvement Team Manager, which sought approval of the Council’s draft Corporate Plan 2012-17, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.  Members were informed that a decision would be required to approve the final draft version of the Corporate Plan 2012-17, attached as Appendix I to the report. 

 

The Leader, Councillor H.H. Evans introduced the report and explained that although the work of improving Denbighshire was not yet complete, the foundations were now in place and ambitions should now be realised.  Achievements from the Corporate Plan 2008/12 were outlined and reference made to the Authority’s attainment as High Performing Council, however, opportunities for improvement were recognised.  The Leader referred to the two practical challenges encompassed in the Plan which were the need to monitor and measure the effectiveness of the priorities, and ensure the Corporate Plan was responding to the needs of the residents.  The four values for which Denbighshire stood, Unity, Respect, Integrity and Pride were highlighted for Members.

 

The Chief Executive explained that the Corporate Plan was a high level strategic document developed to guide the direction of the Council for the next 5 years, with the £134m investment in the delivery of key priorities including a major investment of £97 million in education.  The Corporate Plan had been prepared within the policy and financial context for Welsh Local Authorities and defined the Council’s top strategic priorities and clearly set out its ambitions for the future.  The Council had been transformed over the last 5 years and was now viewed as being proactive rather than reactive, and the Chief Executive explained that he was confident that the Senior Management Team would maintain the high standards now being achieved, with political and officer leadership being an important ingredient for success.

 

Members were informed that the draft Corporate Plan would look at the following key areas:-

 

·           Improving performance in education and the quality of school buildings

·           Developing the local economy

·           Improving roads

·           Vulnerable people are protected and are able to live as independently as possible

·           Clean and tidy streets

·           Ensuring access to good quality housing

·           Modernising the council to deliver efficiencies and improve services for customers.

 

Key proposals for investment for the five year period would include:-

 

·           £97 million in improving school buildings, implementing area reviews, refurbishment and other improvements to schools.

·           £10.4 million investment in roads

·           £21 million in three extra care facilities across the county

·           £2 million investment in the economy.

·           £4 million in information communication technology (ICT) and office building assets.

 

It was anticipated that Welsh Government grants would assist the funding of planned work to improve schools and roads, with other partners being likely to contribute to planned extra care housing projects.  A total of £78 million would be found from a range of sources including funding generated through prudential borrowing.

 

The Chief Executive explained that the Corporate Plan had a clear focus on improving services for customers with the Council being committed to becoming more responsive to the needs of customers.  The delivery of the Corporate Plan would transform the lives of people in Denbighshire and create a legacy for the future.  He confirmed that each of the priorities would be approached in a different way with differing timescales and financial investment requirements.  Priorities focussing on the economy and education would have timescales beyond the five years of the Plan.  Although real progress would be expected in these priority areas, with the full benefits being realised beyond 2017.  

 

The need to become more cost-effective would be essential with the introduction flexible working methods.  Delivering the modernisation agenda would be key to protecting frontline services and protecting jobs, and this priority would also be important in underpinning the Council’s other priorities.

 

Councillor B.A. Smith invited Members attention to the monitoring process, which had been incorporated in the report, which was a working document.  Councillor J. Thompson-Hill

 

The potential impact of the scale of funding within the Corporate Plan which represented a huge step change for the Authority was outlined by Councillor J. Thompson-Hill.  He assured Members that although the Plan was ambitious it was deliverable and would assist in driving the economy forward.  He also confirmed that the Plan could in future be modified, if necessary, to adapt to any external factors.

 

The Corporate Plan had not contain details of everything the Council would be doing during the period to support the corporate priorities.  As the Corporate Plan was intended to be an accessible document and details of all the indicators and performance measures used to evaluate the Council’s success had not been included.  A separate document defining the tools used to monitor the Plan would be published and a Corporate Plan Delivery Document would be produced annually to provide specific details of what the Council were expected to deliver in that particular financial year to support the priorities.

 

In response to questions from Members, The Head of Business, Planning and Performance explained that a summary of the consultations carried out had been provided and a draft set of corporate priorities had been published for public consultation, all comments received had been included in Appendix 2.  The consultation period for Town and Community Councils had been extended and a complete list from the feedback, together with one further consultation response, was circulated to Members.  The Corporate Improvement Team were currently following-up on the other priorities identified by individual Members during the Corporate Plan event and a document demonstrating how services were currently responding to those priorities would be circulated to Members.  Appendix 3 included the conclusions of the Equality Impact Assessment on the draft Corporate Plan 2012-17, undertaken by the Corporate Improvement Team in consultation with the respective services. 

 

The following responses were provided to questions and issues raised by Members in relation to the Corporate Plan:-

 

·        Page 87 - In reply to concerns raised by Councillor M.Ll. Davies, the Corporate Improvement Manager agreed to review the wording relating to costs.

·        Page 94, Vulnerable People living independently – Members were informed that there was uncertainty regarding the number of additional Extra Care Housing schemes to be provided across the County and this was the reason for the current wording.

·        Page 105, Cemeteries – Councillors J. Butterfield and A. Roberts expressed concern regarding the lack of availability of burial blots in both Rhyl and Rhuddlan Cemeteries, and the safety aspect of grave stones in terms of meeting Health and Safety requirements.  The Head of Business, Planning and Performance explained that a consultation exercise had been undertaken in relation to this issue and Members comments would be noted and referred to the Head of Environment.

·        In response to questions from Councillors W.L. Cowie and R.L. Feeley regarding the need for positive enforcement action in respect of dog fouling, illegal parking offences and the inclusion of schools in the Clean and Tidy initiative, the Head of Business, Planning and Performance explained that these issues would best be addressed corporately through enforcement, education of the public and changing attitudes and culture.

·        Page 115, Developing the Local Economy – In reply to concerns raised by Councillor C.L. Hughes regarding the need to emphases the word “local” and secure the services of local businesses, the Head of Finance and Assets explained that procurement was governed by legislation.  However, work was currently being undertaken in respect of the procurement strategy.  

·        Page 82 - Councillor S.A. Davies requested details of the costs relating to the provision of translations.  The Corporate Improvement Manager explained that two requests had been received during the past two years for translations into languages other than English or Welsh, and only information pertaining to the specific questions had been translated.         

·        The Corporate Director: Modernisation and Well-being responded to a question from Councillor S.A. Davies and confirmed that the Extra Care Housing facilities provided by Denbighshire were fully occupied.  She confirmed that she did not anticipate encountering any problems in securing occupants for the new developments proposed in the Corporate Plan.          

·        In response to issues raised by Councillor H. Hilditch-Roberts regarding clarity in respect of the delivery of the proposals, the Chief Executive explained that Denbighshire had provided a clear indication of their intentions.   However, given certain circumstances any changes imposed by Government, such as those relating to grant funding, could influence the delivery of the proposals contained in the Corporate Plan.   He also explained that due to publication requirements agenda’s for meetings were published prior to the consideration of issues at meetings, particular reference being made to the Forward Plan, and this provided the Media with the opportunity to publish stories prior to discussion of an issue by Members.

·        In response to concerns raised by Councillor E.W. Williams, the Head of Business, Planning and Performance explained that the number of priorities identified would be monitored by the Wales Audit Office.  He also confirmed that priorities were now more structured and focused.

·        Councillor T.R. Hughes stressed the importance of ensuring that update and progress reports in respect of the Corporate Plan were submitted to Full Council for monitoring purposes.  Councillor J. Thompson-Hill confirmed that reports in respect of the Capital Plan would be submitted to Council on a quarterly basis.  The Head of Business, Planning and Performance explained that a Quarterly Performance Report would be submitted to Cabinet and Scrutiny, together with, the publication of an Annual Delivery document outlining support provision for the Corporate Plan during the coming year.

·        The Head of Business, Planning and Performance confirmed that the issue of public relations and the conveying and communication of messages in relation to the Capital Plan, and the work of the Council in general, would be crucial. 

 

During the ensuing discussion Members expressed their unanimous support for the recommendation contained in the report, and it was:-

 

RESOLVED – that, subject to the agreed changes, Council approves the final draft of the Corporate Plan 2012-17 to enable the document to be translated and published.