Issue - meetings

The Mayor and Lead Member for Children’s Safeguarding, Adult Social Care and Public Protection and the Chief Executive submitted a report for the Executive’s consideration. Following approval of the refreshed Strategic Plan 2021-24 by Council on 24 February 2021, the purpose of the report was to seek the Executive’s endorsement of the Strategic Plan workplan and associated outcomes, to assure achievement of the Council’s strategic priorities for the 2021-24 period.

The proposed workplan was set out at Appendix 1 of the submitted report, for consideration and approval. In developing the workplan, consideration had been given to the outcome of the 2020 Let’s Talk consultation exercise, with further activity being added to improve the following, which in turn would contribute to improved performance against the aforementioned outcomes:

·        residents feeling safe outside after dark;

·        local satisfaction with road and pavement maintenance;

·        local satisfaction with street cleaning; and

·        residents speaking positively about the work of the Council.

Progress against delivery of the workplan would be monitored on a monthly basis and reported to all Members quarterly via all-member briefings and as part of the quarterly Strategic Plan update reports to the Executive and the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

In November 2020, as a result of a surge in cases of COVID-19, nationally imposed restrictions and the resulting impact on the local approach to Recovery, the Executive approved the Council’s revised approach to COVID-19 Recovery and noted the updated Recovery metrics and measures.

As one of the nine strategic priorities, it had been proposed that all associated Recovery works and activities would be subsumed within the Strategic Plan 2021-24 workplan.

OPTIONS

It was imperative that the Council effectively articulated and communicated an overarching plan which directed activity across Directorates towards the achievement of its strategic priorities. As such, no other options had been considered.

ORDERED

1.      That the proposed Strategic Plan workplan and outcomes, to assure achievement of the Council’s strategic priorities for the 2021-24 period, be approved.

2.      That the inclusion of all Recovery works and activities within the Strategic Plan 2021-24 workplan be approved and its proposed adherence to the monitoring and governance arrangements be noted, as outlined in the report.

3.      That the delegation of approval for minor amendments to in-quarter timescales to the Chief Executive be agreed. Any significant variation to approach or deliverables would be reported to, and seek approval via, the quarterly Strategic Plan progress reports to Executive.

REASONS

To provide the necessary detail to demonstrate robust delivery plans of the Council’s strategic priorities and assurance of the associated governance.