Issue - meetings

Decision:

(1)     That the new draft corporate priorities for the Council, as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report submitted to the Executive, be approved for public consultation purposes, subject to the amendment of the priority “Providing the housing that people need” to read: “Residents to have access to a good quality home that meets their needs at a price they can afford”.

(2)     That the proposed process and indicative timetable for the production of a new corporate plan, as set out in the report, be approved.

(3)     That the Managing Director be authorised, in consultation with Group Leaders, to appoint a councillor working group to support the development of the new corporate plan.

Reason:

To enable the Council to develop new corporate priorities and a corporate plan to provide the strategic framework for managing our business and resources effectively. 

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Executive:

Making no changes to the existing Corporate Plan covering the period 2018 to 2023.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None

The Executive noted that the Council had approved its current Corporate Plan for the period 2018 to 2023 at its meeting on 15 May 2018. However, since the Borough Council elections in May 2019, members of the Executive had discussed new corporate priorities.  A list of draft priorities was developed across the four following strategic themes:

Climate Change and Environment

Housing and Community

Economy and Regeneration

Improved Council

The Executive considered a report which set out new draft corporate priorities for public consultation and proposed a timetable and process for developing a new corporate plan.

The draft priorities had been the subject of a workshop for all councillors held on 13 November 2019. The workshop had focussed on defining the outcomes and impacts that the Council would most wish to deliver under the following draft priorities:

Climate Change and Environment

Ø  Working with residents and businesses towards becoming a carbon neutral borough

Ø  Protecting our environment

Ø  Making travel easier and more sustainable

Housing and Community

Ø  Providing the housing that people need

Ø  Caring for people who need our help

Ø  Keeping the community active and well

Economy and Regeneration

Ø  Encouraging sustainable, clean economic growth

Ø  Supporting businesses to provide the jobs people need

Ø  Regenerating Guildford town centre

Improved Council

Ø  Using new ways of working to improve value for money and customer service

Ø  Improving transparency, consultation and community engagement

The Executive noted that the report had also been considered by the Joint Executive Advisory Board at its meeting held on 9 January 2020, and their comments were taken into consideration by the Executive.

The Executive

RESOLVED:

(1)    That the new draft corporate priorities for the Council, as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report submitted to the Executive and referred to above, be approved for public consultation purposes, subject to the amendment of the priority “Providing the housing that people need” to read: “Residents to have access to a good quality home that meets their needs at a price they can afford”.

(2)    That the proposed process and indicative timetable for the production of a new corporate plan, as set out in the report, be approved.

(3)    That the Managing Director be authorised, in consultation with Group Leaders, to appoint a councillor working group to support the development of the new corporate plan.

Reason:

To enable the Council to develop new corporate priorities and a corporate plan to provide the strategic framework for managing our business and resources effectively.