Issue - meetings

Councillor S J Conboy, The Executive Leader to present the Corporate Plan Refresh 2025 for approval.

(The Report was considered by Cabinet at their meeting on 15th April 2025 and it was agreed that it should be recommended to Council for approval).

Time Allocation: 20 Minutes

In conjunction with a report by the Head of Policy, Performance and Emergency Planning (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book), the Executive Leader, Councillor S J Conboy presented to Members the Corporate Plan Refresh 2025 Report for the Council’s consideration and approval.

Councillor R Martin addressed the Chamber and stated that he did not wish to question the intentions behind the refreshed Plan but did challenge the assumptions, effectiveness and priorities of the Plan. He observed the national cost of living crisis and felt that the Plan read more like a shopping list of unrestrained aspirations and was therefore unrealistic. He observed that whilst this may be well intentioned, he felt it was unrealistic and noted that in particular the lack of core prioritising and focus had previously been highlighted as an area of concern but was still not addressed by the refresh in his opinion. He also felt that the Plan focussed on outputs rather than outcomes for the district with strong focus being placed on enabling and influencing partners and a reduced focus on Council actions.

In particular, Councillor Martin stated that he felt that the Climate Strategy lacked proportionality and that costly projects were being undertaken without a measured return on investment. He was concerned that there was vagueness when working with housing partners with big aspirations but lack of detail on how Council resources could process these schemes. Councillor Martin was concerned that the Plan was not appealing to residents due to it’s length and encouraged Members to reject the Plan and ask that it be reworked into a more realistic, slimmer and more targeted version which would hold delivery above discussion, impact above intention and residents above process.

Councillor L Davenport-Ray responded that many of the projects within the Climate Strategy had had external funding which had been hard fought for and was essential to assist the Council in achieving its net zero aspirations.

Councillor Conboy acknowledged the comments of Councillor Martin and lamented that the same sentiments had not been shared as part of the Scrutiny process, as this would have given an opportunity for concerns to be addressed and mitigated. Councillor Conboy further stressed the importance of partnership working in being preventative and that the interventions which could be achieved in this manner of working were beneficial to residents and the local economy.

Further comment was made by Councillor S Wakeford, who gave the example of working with housing partners to ensure good economic growth for the district, and stated that the targets within the Plan allowed for the Council’s influence on this to be measured. He felt that this was a Corporate Plan that the Council could be proud of.

Councillor P Hodgson-Jones observed that the right kind of measures and objectives needed to be smart and realistic. In his opinion, the Council’s scrutiny function could be more involved in identifying underachieving targets and bringing those back to the Council Chamber. He felt that the Corporate Plan indicators  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11

To receive a report updating Members on the annual refresh of the Corporate Plan for 2023-2028 and presenting the actions and key performance indicators for 2025/26 to Council for approval.

Executive Councillor: S Conboy.

The Cabinet has

(a)  endorsed the refreshed Corporate Plan to Council (attached as Appendix 1 of the submitted report); and

(b)   endorsed the Key Performance Indicator Changes (attached as Appendix 4 of the submitted report)

Additionally, the Cabinet has recommended to Council

(a)  the approval of the refreshed Corporate Plan (attached as Appendix 1 of the submitted report); and

(b)  the approval of the Key Performance Indicator Changes (attached as Appendix 4 of the submitted report).

A report by the Head of Policy, Performance and Emergency Planning was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) updating Members on the annual refresh of the Corporate Plan for 2023-2028 and presenting the actions and key performance indicators for 2025/26 to Council for approval.

In introducing the report, the Executive Leader reported that the content of the proposed Corporate Plan would be the Joint Administration’s agenda for the coming year. The Plan had been reviewed to take into consideration matters that changed year on year and further work would continue to be undertaken to refine Key Performance Indicators and the performance of the Council. The Cabinet were informed that two Key Performance Indicators from last year had been merged into a single indicator, the introduction of four new indicators and one replacement indicator. A summary was then provided on the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) which were received and noted.

The Executive Councillor for Resident Services and Corporate Performance concurred that a constructive discussion had been had at the Overview and Scrutiny meeting. He then went on to state that this year’s Plan incorporated 67 actions compared to last year’s Plan which had 64. The suggestions which had been raised at the Overview and Scrutiny meeting had been welcomed and were in the process of being discussed with service leaders. An explanation was delivered on Corporate Plan Action 29 and 39 together with an update on Performance Indicator 18 and 25.

Following a request by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) it was reported that the Panel would be receiving a further update on performance indicators at their meeting in June 2025. This was welcomed by the Cabinet.

A discussion then ensued on footfall within Market Towns and whether this was an appropriate measure of success. Whilst it was acknowledged that it wasn’t a wholly reliable metric, the Cabinet were mindful that it would add value in terms of identifying early improvements in footfall. Furthermore, it was reported that this data was also utilised to take decisions on town centre redevelopment schemes. The Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene expressed her view that a measure of success would be higher turnover/profits for local businesses.

Having then discussed call centre waiting times and the availability of information on the Council’s website, it was

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet

(a)  endorse the refreshed Corporate Plan to Council (attached as Appendix 1 of the submitted report); and

(b)  endorse the Key Performance Indicator changes (attached as Appendix 4 of the submitted report).

that Council be recommended to

(a)  approve the refreshed Corporate Plan (attached as Appendix 1 of the submitted report); and

(b)  approve the Key Performance Indicator changes (attached as Appendix 4 of the submitted report).

The Panel is invited to comment on the Corporate Plan Refresh 2025 Report.

Executive Councillor: S Ferguson

By means of a report by the Head of Policy, Performance and Emergency Planning (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book) the Corporate Plan Refresh 2025 Report was presented to the Panel.

Concern was expressed over the proposed measurement of Corporate Plan Action 3 being number of business engagements achieved by the Economic Development Team, following which the Panel heard that it was acknowledged that measuring the quality of engagement was important but difficult to do, it was noted that this measurement would be reviewed prior to finalisation.

The Panel were appreciative of the earlier timeframe of the report than in previous years. In response to a question relating to KPI 29, the Panel heard that this metric would be reviewed to consider futureproofing new homes to allow for changes in mobility of residents throughout their life. The Panel also heard, following a further question regarding KPI 39, that the Council had ambition to influence others and that the possibility of including the Alconbury Weald train station within this KPI would be investigated.

It was observed that the new target for KPI was too easy when taking past figures into account. In response to which, the Panel heard that whilst the Council was reluctant to set more lenient targets, it was important that the targets be realistic, however this target would be reviewed in line with the recently available quarter 4 figures and adjusted if necessary. It was further questioned the target achievability and wording of KPI 27, following which the Panel heard that the team had requested the revised target in order to push themselves but it was acknowledged that pushing too hard could prove counter productive, it was noted that the wording would be reviewed.

The Panel heard, that the Local Plan looks at ensuring a balance of identified housing needs would be met with future development and that the new Local Plan would be informed by the evidence gathered.

Concern was expressed that once in place, the support for Public Space Protection orders was minimal. The Panel were assured that the PSPOs were only implemented where the Police had assured support would be available and that a breakdown in what is achieved by these orders could be included.

In response to a question regarding risks that Local Government Reform may pose to KPIs, the Panel heard that a business as usual approach had been adopted and that necessary adjustments would be made as required as LGR progressed. It was further noted that this would be managed by the Local Plan Advisory Group.

The Panel heard that identified points would be reviewed with the appropriate teams and that outcomes to the points raised in the meeting would be communicated back to the Panel in due course.

Following the discussion, it was

RESOLVED

that Cabinet be encouraged to consider the comments from Overview and Scrutiny when making a decision upon the recommendations within the report.