Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Business Intelligence and Performance Manager on a refresh of the Corporate Plan.

Executive Councillor: S Conboy.

The Cabinet has recommended to Council the endorsement of the refreshed Corporate Plan for 2023-2028 (as attached at Appendix 1 of the report now submitted).

With the aid of a report prepared by the Business Intelligence and Performance Manager the Cabinet received a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) that provided an update on the refresh of the Corporate Plan, which included revised lists of key actions and operational performance indicators for 2024/25. The Corporate Plan for 2023-2028 had been adopted in March 2023 and established three priorities for the District Council, with related outcomes set out through detailed outcome statements accompanied by a list of actions and operational performance indicators.

By way of background the Executive Leader, Councillor S J Conboy  reported that the actions are reviewed annually and are removed, amended or added to where work has been completed or new approaches have been identified, for example through Community wealth building that as a new people-centred approach to local economic development provides an exciting opportunity for the District Council as it redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places control and benefits into the hands of local people.

Cabinet noted that performance reporting has continued to evolve with new or amended operational performance measures proposed where better indicators have been identified that means the District Council can more easily enable and influence partners and stakeholders. For example, to directly shape emissions and increase resilience within Huntingdonshire to deliver many local benefits including lower energy bills, economic regeneration and creation of local jobs, reductions in fuel poverty and improved health, avoidance of flood damage costs, enhanced green spaces and improved air quality. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

to recommend to Council the endorsement of the refreshed Corporate Plan for 2023-2028 (as attached at Appendix 1 of the report now submitted).

The Panel is invited to comment on the refresh of the Corporate Plan.

Executive Councillor: S Conboy

By means of a report by the Business Intelligence and Performance Manager, (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book), the Corporate Plan Refresh 2024 report was presented to the Panel.

Following a question from Councillor Wells requesting detail on the fleet decarbonisation plan, the Panel heard that the Council was looking at alternative fuels whilst assessing the challenges of new technologies. More detail would be sought from the Portfolio Holder and reported back to the Panel at a later date.

In response to a question from Councillor Blackwell relating to the Operational Performance Measures, the Panel heard that sickness reporting would continue via the quarterly performance reports and Employment Committee and that a range of data would be gathered and analysed going forward and in turn would drive policy development.

The Panel heard, following a question from Councillor Cawley, that happiness would be measured via district level data from the Office for National Statistics.

Following a further question from Councillor Cawley, the Panel heard that reporting on reductions in cardon emissions would be reported via the Climate Strategy, however the Panel were assured that robust measures were in place. It was observed by Councillor Cawley that an overarching timescale for this work would be helpful and would help reassure residents that work was being undertaken.

Councillor Martin stated that it would be helpful to understand progress from the previous year’s report, the Panel were advised that this would be incorporated within the quarter 4 Corporate Performance report.

The Panel were assured, in response to a query from Councillor Slade, that a robust communications plan was in place and that this sat alongside the Corporate Plan and would ensure that the right messages went to the right people at the right time.

Following the discussion, it was

RESOLVED

that the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel be passed to Cabinet for their consideration when making a decision upon the recommendations contained within the report.