Issue - meetings

This report sets out the current position on the Council’s draft Corporate Strategy to the Panel for consideration and feedback.

The Director for Partnership & Corporate Services introduced this item to the Panel. He explained that the draft strategy had been launched in December 2019 and had been discussed by the Council’s two other Policy Development & Scrutiny Panels earlier in the month. He stated that the document sets out the Council’s core purpose, policy focus and key commitments as well as describing the organisation’s approach to monitoring performance and managing its budget.

He added that Councillors have also been invited to attend the Corporate Policy Development & Scrutiny Panel on February 3^rd where the Draft Budget will be discussed in more detail.

He highlighted the following area within the draft strategy.

OUR FRAMEWORK

ONE:  We have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives.

This might sound simple but it brings together everything we do, from cleaning the streets to caring for our older people. It is the foundation for our strategy and we will ensure that it drives our commitments, spending and service delivery.

TWO: We have two core policies – tackling the climate and nature emergency and giving people a bigger say. These will shape everything we do.

THREE: To translate our purpose into commitments, we have identified three principles.  We want to prepare for the future, deliver for local residents and focus on prevention.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that she felt it was difficult to comment on the draft strategy without any budget figures attached to it and called for the budget to return to the agenda of all Panels to discuss their remits separately in future years. She queried how the Council will ‘Re-shape the way we work with children, young people and families in order to reduce demand for high cost, specialist children’s social care placements’.

Councillor Andrew Wait commented that he quite liked the draft of the strategy and its focussed approach. He said that he would welcome further information on the Community Engagement Charter and stated that he would like to see more reports referencing the Parish Charter in the future as this was an area the Council could improve upon.

Councillor Paul May suggested the Parishes be surveyed to gain their feedback on the Charter.

Kevin Burnett offered a note of caution by saying that not all people’s lives will necessarily be improved by increasing the use of new technology. He welcomed the draft strategies approach to improving the inequalities in life experience, including education, employment and health outcomes for local residents.

The Chairman said that he felt the draft strategy was very headline in its approach and offered nothing new in terms of ideas from the previous administration. He called for further explanation of the Council’s workings alongside WECA as he personally was yet to see any advantages.

He added that he would be interested to see how Citizens’ Juries will improve decision-making.

Councillor Jess David commented that she would have liked to have seen more detail relating to the section of the draft strategy in terms of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38

David Trethewey, Director of Partnership and Corporate Services, introduced the report.

Panel members asked the following questions and raised the following points:

Councillor Craig raised the following points. Officer responses are shown in italics:

·  Transport infrastructure is mentioned throughout but we are dependent on third parties in terms of improving bus and rail. The officer explained that the Corporate Strategy shows the intention of the Cabinet is to influence WECA where possible in terms of improvements to bus and rail services.

·  How do you measure residents’ views? The officer explained that a randomized Voicebox survey is used. The Panel will be sent a link to this.

·  Allowances must be made for people who cannot use digital services. The officer explained that the Council is working towards making as many services digital as possible which will free up staff to help people who cannot use the digital services. There is recognition that not all residents are online.

·  Council tax is spent on recycling, but we have limited control on buying things without excess packaging. We should lobby businesses so that they use less packaging. The officer explained that clarity of strategic goals makes lobbying easier. The Panel will have a role when looking at the Environmental Bill.

·  Can we commit to look favourably at sustainable businesses who want to occupy our shops. The officer explained that property is usually let on best consideration regarding the commercial estate.

Councillor Hirst commented that the Corporate Strategy is a useful, clear and helpful document. He had the following queries. Officer responses are shown in italics:

·  Query on inclusion of ‘nature’ in the Climate Emergency wording. The officer explained that this is a recognition that there is also a nature emergency and that these are connected. The Cabinet are working across both agendas.

·  Supportive of the three bullet points on the climate and nature policy but concerned about what can be achieved and delivered in four years. There should be clear and achievable aims with quarterly reporting on performance statistics. The officer explained that there is a target of carbon neutrality by 2030. There is a session in March to review the relevant strategies with a work programme cycle for these reviews.

·  Regarding ‘giving people a bigger say’ – the current consultation on Entry Hill golf course may not meet the criteria. The officer explained that the aim in the Corporate Strategy are based on learning from current and past consultations.

Councillor Davies stated that the document is clear and the core policy of ‘addressing the climate and nature emergency’ is great. He made the following points. Officer responses shown in italics:

·  The Council cannot do this alone, we need to shift behaviours and it would be good to see more in the Corporate Strategy about how the Council can play a wider leadership role in how everyone can help to address the emergency. The officer explained that there are a series of measures planned to tackle this, the challenge is what to focus efforts  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40

This report sets out the current position on the Council’s draft Corporate Strategy to the Panel for consideration and feedback.

The Director for Partnership & Corporate Services introduced this item to the Panel. He explained that it is the intention that the Corporate Strategy aligns with the budget proposals that the Panel will discuss further in February.

The Chairman said that if members of the Panel wish to discuss the matter informally, he would be agreeable for such a meeting to take place.

Councillor Alastair Singleton commented on the use of the term ‘Climate and nature emergency’ as opposed to Climate Change.

The Director for Partnership & Corporate Services replied that the use of language is important within the document and that this indicates the importance of the situation in which the Council is working.

Councillor Andrew Furse highlighted three key areas for him from the Draft Strategy.

·  Deliver more carbon neutral, social and affordable housing and ensure that our Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) policies put communities first

·  Ensure the Council is an exemplar for low carbon, including the delivery of carbon neutral and energy efficient homes through our housing company

·  Have an effective approach to fly-tipping and litter enforcement as well as to city centre cleansing and trade waste 

The Chairman thanked the Director for Partnership & Corporate Services on behalf of the Panel.