Agenda item

To receive a report presenting the Council’s approach to transformation with the framework, the key drivers and the Annual Transformation Delivery Programme for 2025/26 which sets out the six Programmes, 31 Major Projects and 30 Operational Projects.

Executive Councillor: L Davenport-Ray

The Cabinet has approved the approach to Transformation.

A report by the Business Performance & Transformation Manager was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) presenting the Council’s approach to Transformation with the framework, including the delivery of programmes and projects for 2025/26, which set out six Programmes, 31 Major Projects and 30 Operational Projects.

The Transformation Framework was not a new, additional piece of work but a concise summary of the projects across the Council focussed on transformation and service improvement. 

The Transformation Framework included projects that delivered on the objectives of the Corporate Plan, change programmes, and service plan projects classified as major or operational level projects.

A series of 80 continuous improvement activities from across the Council, underpinning service delivery and the successful implementation of transformational projects, were also identified through the service planning process. These had not been included in the Transformation delivery for 2025/26.

The Executive Councillor for Climate, Transformation & Workforce – Councillor Davenport-Ray, set out the report and made reference to the interesting, valid feedback and constructive criticism from the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) which had been taken on board. Feedback had been around the terminology; originally the report had been called ‘Transformation Plan’, and they had therefore anticipated a strategic document giving the vision of a strategic plan which was not the intention. Accordingly, the title of the report was changed to ‘Transformation Framework’. In terms of a ‘Transformation Plan’, this was interesting feedback but came with risks; she was proud of how these transformational projects had come from service areas themselves, but it was preferred to bring those concepts together and highlight them rather than create another piece of work. In response from further feedback from the Scrutiny Panel around ensuring this would go back to them, she clarified that it was not clear enough in the original report, but the intention was to publish this every year, therefore the Transformation Framework 2026/27 would go back to the Scrutiny Panel in June 2026.

The Cabinet was of the opinion that the fact it was a Transformation Framework spoke volumes about how they thought as an administration and as officers. Typically, Council’s did projects and that was how to benchmark success, however HDC led the way in how Council thinking was evolving, with a framework woven through how things were done and approached. It was about welcoming the opportunity to encourage teams to think about how things were done, innovate and work more efficiently which was a welcome culture. It was a framework around the cultural change being embedded. Further positive comments were made where officers were commended for many of the good ideas that had come from Service Managers; the service improvements and innovations came up through the service areas, and it was part of the Cabinet’s role to support them and give them the resources they need to deliver those. Lots of hard work had gone into the framework and it was a good way of mentioning the good things coming through the Council.

The Executive Councillor for Climate, Transformation & Workforce – Councillor Davenport-Ray commented that it was important to remember that this framework was what transformation meant for the Council. There was now a document in place setting out programme by programme, project by project, this was what was meant by how the Council was transforming. She paid tribute to the Transformation team which had only been set up over the previous nine months and had learned at speed; their work had been impressive.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet approved the approach to Transformation.