Agenda item

The attached report updates Cabinet on the progress made in delivering the Corporate Strategy 2020-24 and our performance in 2022-23.

Cllr Dave Wood introduced the report, moved the officer recommendation and made the following statement:

“This is a moment to really reflect on the last four years and the incredible achievements this Council and its staff have made against the backdrop of the Covid pandemic and rising inflation. 

We have:

·  Invested extra millions into road repairs and cleaner streets, starting to reverse a decade of cuts to local government

·  Introduced the first charging clean air zone (CAZ) outside of London

·  Invested in high streets in Midsomer Norton, Keynsham and Bath

·  Sharply increased renewable energy in the district

·  Achieved and sustained our best recycling rate ever

·  Built more pedestrian crossings, segregated cycle lanes and 20mph zones than ever before

·  Created the Chew Valley recreational trail

·  Found new ways of engaging people through Citizens’ Juries

·  Created the first new social rent properties in a generation

·  Built a state-of-the-art new recycling centre in Keynsham

·  Is the first Council in England to adopt a net zero based housing plan

These are the building blocks of future success as we embark on the historic second term voters have given us.  The first administration to prove itself worth being re-elected for another four years.  This is our record of action and I’ll go on to talk about our promise of more in the next item.”

Cllr Alison Born seconded the motion and made the following statement:

“As has been noted, this systematic approach to planning and performance was introduced by the previous Liberal Democrat administration. It has provided a structure for articulating our aims and our planned programmes of work; it has increased transparency and accountability to the residents we serve. Our clear guiding principle is to improve people’s lives and this report accounts for progress across our services.

When developing the strategy for our first term, we were not expecting to spend two years in the grip of an unprecedented global pandemic that had a massive impact on people’s lives, but the authority responded well to that challenge, we continued to deliver services throughout the pandemic, supporting residents and businesses and adapting to meet changing needs and circumstances. Our focus during the height of the pandemic was to protect, contain and mitigate the impact of the emergency and to lay the foundations for an effective and sustainable recovery.

The 2022/23 performance report provides information on the extent of that recovery and demonstrates the success of that strategy. I am going to focus particularly on actions we have taken to meet the needs of vulnerable people. We have continued to invest in social care and are now supporting significantly more looked after children with many more on child protection plans. Our Connecting Families Service has continued to provide effective support for families with complex needs and our children’s services were rated Good by recent OFSTED inspection.

We have increased support to local third sector groups through the Community Contribution Fund and through targeted use of community Infrastructure Levy funds. We have responded positively and robustly to issues in local care homes, ensuring rapid improvements. We have worked with the community to welcome refugees to the area and have provided support and warm spaces to help residents deal with the cost-of-living crisis; we have provided free internet access at council libraries.

Our public health services responded very well throughout the pandemic, helping to keep local residents safe, they have also invested in social prescribing and other preventative measures that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the local population.

This is not an exhaustive list, and it is not the end of the story, we plan to build on this progress over this current term and I am happy to second this motion.”

Cllr Tim Ball noted that the authority has delivered services and moved forward throughout the Covid pandemic, and he looked forward to continuing this in the next four years.

Cllr Paul May spoke regarding the new footbridge which is now operational and providing access to a school in Radstock.  This is an example of how the Council is improving people’s lives as it will enable children to walk to school safely and will reduce the need for parents to drive pupils to school in line with the Council’s policy on climate change.

Cllr Matt McCabe noted that the Council’s Planning Team had been under a lot of pressure during the pandemic.  He congratulated Planning Officers on winning two awards in the last year – the RTPI South West Award, Planning Authority of the Year and an Award for Planning Excellence.

Cllr Sarah Warren noted the declaration of a climate emergency and the introduction of an ecological emergency action plan.  She welcomed the Local Plan Partial Update and highlighted the fact the B&NES was the first council to require net zero emissions for new housing developments and one of the first councils to require a net gain in biodiversity.  She also welcomed the outcome of the clean air zone as there has been a 20% reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

To note the progress made in delivering the Corporate Strategy and the highlights of Council performance and activity during 2022-23.