Agenda item

This report is an opportunity to engage the Panel prior to further development of the Council’s new Corporate Strategy.

The Head of Strategy Engagement & Marketing introduced this item to the Panel. He explained that the new Corporate Strategy will bring together the Council’s key service commitments, its wider financial strategy and change programme, including initiatives such as moving to a more digital approach to service delivery and the priorities, plans and focus for change of the new administration.

He stated that the new Corporate Strategy will set the context for the Council’s financial and budget strategy in light of the new administration’s priorities and be built around a 4 -phase planning cycle.

·  Phase One – Plan, prioritise and decide

·  Phase Two – Gear up and start delivery

·  Phase Three – Continue to deliver and realise benefits

·  Phase Four – Review and future planning

He said that Policy Development and Scrutiny (PDS) members will have a key role throughout the lifetime of the Corporate Strategy, with particular aspects emphasised at certain phases in the planning cycle.

He explained that a programme of engagement on the draft Strategy will be carried out later on the year with a view to adopting the final version by February 2020.

Councillor Richard Samuel commented that the Corporate Strategy will translate political commitments into delivery. He added that it will bring forward the pledges made in the Liberal Democrat election manifesto into the structure of the Council.

He stated that key elements will include:

·  Social Housing / Affordable Housing / Council Housing

·  Clean Air Zone

·  Local Bus Network

Councillor Amanda Rigby commented that February 2020 must be a definite end date for adoption and that if it can be earlier she for one would welcome that. She stated that our political goals need to be delivered and implemented.

Councillor Shaun Hughes said that project timescales should be available publicly.

Councillor Samuel agreed and said that in terms of Council Housing there was a process to be followed to allow delivery.

Councillor Karen Warrington commented that to enable a digital approach to service delivery rural area solutions will be needed. She said that she hoped the Strategy would not be Bath centric as public transport solutions are also required in North East Somerset. She asked what resources will be required to implement the Citizens Juries.

The Head of Strategy Engagement & Marketing replied that Citizens Juries comprise of a random selection of members of the public to consider a specific Council area of work. He added that they are briefed by experts on the topic in question. He said that the Council was working with the University of Bath to establish the resources required in respect of advisors and facilitation.

Councillor Samuel stated that the Strategy would be a document for the whole Council and acknowledged the need for public transport to be improved rurally. He added that housing opportunities were more likely to be focussed in North East Somerset due to land availability and price. He said that Parishes will be addressed as this work progresses.

Councillor Karen Warrington said that any development must come with the appropriate infrastructure including transport and local amenities.

Councillor Samuel said that he agreed that the Council should not create housing for low income families in areas without the appropriate facilities. He said that the Council will work with Parishes with regard to the location of any new housing.

Councillor Shaun Hughes commented that infrastructure investment was also required within Midsomer Norton.

The Panel RESOLVED to:

(i)  Note the emerging strategic themes, process and approach for the new Corporate Strategy

(ii)  Request that the Panel is updated regularly and involved in developing the new Corporate Strategy framework providing policy development, scrutiny and review of its implementation

(iii)  Agree that the Corporate Strategy should be accompanied by a rigorous, public-facing performance monitoring regime which highlights the Council’s performance against planned delivery.