Issue - meetings

To seek Cabinet support of the draft Corporate Plan for the period 2024 to 2027 and to recommend to Council its approval and adoption from the 1^st April 2024.

Purpose of report

To seek Cabinet support of the draft Corporate Plan for the period 2024 to 2027 and to recommend to Council its approval and adoption from the 1^st April 2024.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Recommends the new Corporate Plan 2024-2027 to Council for approval and adoption from 1 April 2024.

2.    Delegates to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Governance and Licensing to make any minor amendments to the design of the Corporate Plan 2024-2027 document prior to final Council approval.

Alternative options considered and rejected

The Council could have decided not to have a Corporate Plan. This was not a prudent or viable approach. The absence of a Corporate Plan would have resulted in a lack of strategic direction and at best an ad hoc and disjointed focus. Effective performance management and delivery of the Best Value Duty would be compromised.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) published draft statutory guidance on compliance with the Best Value Duty for local authorities in July 2023. The Best Value Duty related to the statutory requirement for local authorities and other public bodies defined as best value authorities in Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999 (“the 1999 Act”) to “make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness”.

The guidance provided greater clarity to local government on how to fulfil the

Best Value Duty by describing what constituted best value, the standards

expected by the department and the models of intervention at the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ disposal in the event of failure to uphold these standards. DLUHC was currently analysing consultation responses to the draft guidance. The final document was expected in 2024.

The draft guidance was clear that possession of a Corporate Plan was a marker of well-functioning local authority under the Best Value theme of Leadership. The Corporate Plan was required to be “evidence based, current, realistic and enables the whole organisation’s performance to be measured and held to account. Strategic priorities are aligned with the authority’s financial strategy and delivery arrangements, and respond appropriately to local need, including the plans of partners and stakeholders.”

It was considered an indicator of potential failure if the “Corporate plan is out of date, unrealistic and unaffordable and/or has too many priorities” or was absent entirely.

Reasons for decision

The Corporate Plan would give a strategic framework for operational and medium-term financial planning and provided a clear direction for the Council. This provided a clear view of what the Council was delivering for the public, residents, businesses, key stakeholders and for its own staff.

The Corporate Plan (the Plan) set out the strategic vision of the Council for the next 4 years, and provided a performance framework for the delivery of the actions within the Plan, utilising a comprehensive evidence base.

The Plan informed the Council of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64