Issue - meetings

Councillor G J Bull, Executive Leader to present the draft Corporate Plan for 2018-22 outlining the Vision, Strategic Priorities and Objectives for Huntingdonshire District Council.

(The draft Plan has been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) and the Cabinet at their meetings in September who have recommended that the draft Plan be adopted).

(See Minute No 18/33 for Members’ interests).

In conjunction with the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) and recommendation of the Cabinet at their meeting held on 20th September 2018, Minute No. 26 refers, the Executive Leader, Councillor G J Bull introduced a report by the Corporate Team Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was attached the proposed Corporate Plan for the period 2018-22. 

Members understood that the Corporate Plan contained the Council’s vision, strategic priorities and objectives for the next four years. The Plan also set out what the Council aimed to achieve in addition to the core statutory services.

Councillor Bull reported that the Plan had been based upon the Conservative Party’s manifesto commitments and vision for the District Council, the latter of which had been through the Overview and Scrutiny process, as well as being debated at Council through the State of District Annual Report at the last meeting. He thanked his fellow Cabinet colleagues who had assisted in the development of the Plan, as well as Officers in the Corporate Team.

It was reported by Councillor Bull that the District Council remained an autonomous, sovereign Council and was proud of being in charge of its destiny. It was managing its services in a prudent and sensitive way, living within the Council’s means. It was adapting to changing circumstances but maintaining good quality value for money services.

Councillor Bull moved the recommendation and was duly seconded by Councillor Fuller.

By reference to discussion at the previous meeting on the Conservative Party’s manifesto and the suggestion that Portfolio Holders will be able to hold Officers to account, Councillor B S Chapman referenced Officer pre-planning advice that had been given contrary to the Council’s Policies and the Managing Director requested that Councillor Chapman provide details to substantiate his allegation for discussion outside of the meeting.

Councillor Mrs S J Conboy congratulated the Executive Leader on the production of the Plan and looked forward the content being delivered for the benefit of the residents of the District.

In congratulating Councillor Bull on the content of the Plan, Councillor T D Sanderson referenced the Integrated Performance Report for Quarter One and low rates of street cleansing inspections, whereby Councillor Bull explained that the Corporate Plan was the strategic document and such detail should be addressed through the Overview and Scrutiny process.

It having been previously moved and seconded, the Council

RESOLVED

that the Corporate Plan 2018-22 (attached at Appendix 1 to the report now submitted) be adopted.

To provide final comment and recommend the Corporate Plan 2018-2022 to Council for adoption.

(Executive Leader: Councillor G Bull)

i.  that the Cabinet provides final comment on the Corporate Plan 2018–2022; and

RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL

ii.  that the Corporate Plan 2018 - 2022 be adopted.

The Cabinet received a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the development of the Corporate Plan 2018/2022 for any final comment prior to submission to Council for approval.

The Council required a clear vision with strategic priorities that established its objectives and how these would be achieved. The Council’s previous Corporate Plan was for the period 2016 – 2018 and it had been agreed that a new Plan would be prepared for a four year period to coincide with the new electoral cycle.

In considering the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) it was explained that the key actions and performance indicators were realistic given the current financial pressures and were able to be amended if necessary in the future. Regarding staff sickness this was within the remit of the Employment Committee who were fully aware of the situation. Whereupon the Cabinet,

RESOLVED

i.  that the Cabinet provides final comment on the Corporate Plan 2018 – 2022; and

RECOMMENDS TO COUNCIL

ii.  that the Corporate Plan 2018 - 2022 be adopted.

The Panel are to receive the Corporate Plan 2018-2022 and the Integrated Performance Report 2018/19, Quarter 1.

With the aid of a report by the Corporate Team Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Corporate Plan 2018-2022 and the Integrated Performance Report 2018/19, Quarter 1 was presented to the Panel. Members were given background details on the development of the plan and the purpose of the plan.

A Member questioned whether the targets are challenging enough. It was explained that targets set are challenged by Officers and are informed by performance in previous years, national guidelines, statutory obligations and other benchmarking information, and also reflect resource availability, so generally would be more challenging compared to the previous year.

A specific point was raised regarding call centre satisfaction rates and it was explained that the target covers a range of criteria from resolution of the call to had it been passed on to the relevant team.

Where no target has been set, the Panel was informed that this is where the Senior Officers and relevant Portfolio Holder thought the measure would be most useful, however, as it had not been used in the previous year and had not been previously collected, no target was set yet, but this could be added during the year.

In regards to achieving Green Flag status for Paxton Pits, the comment was made that this was setting a target already achieved and that a more beneficial target would be maintaining the Green Flag status for Paxton Pits. The target also includes achieving Green Flag status for Hinchingbrooke Country Park and Riverside St Neots by 2020.

A Member commented that it could be more useful if the number of new affordable homes delivered was presented as a percentage of total homes delivered.

Some Members of the Panel commented that they would like the target for number of staff sickness days lost per full time employee to be lower than 9. It was explained to the Panel that the target is lower than last year’s target of 10 days which was only just met.

In regards to total amount of energy used in Council buildings, a Member commented whether it would be possible to include mileage of Council vehicles within that target.

Attention turned to the Integrated Performance Report 2018/19, Quarter 1. The Corporate Team Manager introduced the report and covered the performance section and the Finance Manager covered the finance section. Members were informed of the revenue and capital overspend and the reasons for it. The Panel was reassured that Officers would work towards reducing the underspend by the end of the financial year.

On grounds maintenance, discussion ensued on how to align the Council’s inspection standard with customer expectations as the latter is subjective. It was explained that customers tend to contact the Council when something is wrong and as grounds maintenance requests were down, this suggests that customers’ expectations are being met.

The Panel commented that if the public knew which Council is responsible for maintaining which bit of land this would decrease the number of calls  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22