Decision details

To present to Cabinet the Corporate Plan for the 3 year period commencing 2012/13 and seek any amendments.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Blamire)

Cabinet received a report from the Head of Community Engagement to seek approval of the draft Corporate Plan for the 3 year period 2012 to 2015 and to request that Cabinet recommends the Corporate Plan to full council for formal approval in May.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

Option 1 - Approve the draft Corporate Plan as presented or to approve with minor amendments.  Assuming no significant impact on resources and forward planning arrangements, minor amendments could be managed without interruption to the strategic planning cycle and the Corporate Plan could be submitted for consideration by full council in May.

Option 2 - Corporate Plan not recommended to Council at this stage.  This option was likely to lead to delays in publication of the Corporate Plan leading to uncertainty regarding the council’s intentions and possible interruptions to delivery of some services or activities.

The Officer preferred Option was Option 1 as this would underpin council activities as well as business and resource planning from an early point in the municipal year.  In addition, local residents, communities and partners would be clear about the council Priorities, Actions and the Outcomes it wishes to achieve for the next three year period.

The council’s strategic planning arrangements created an opportunity each year to consider the changing needs and aspirations of local communities and shifting priorities, opportunities and challenges and refresh the Corporate Plan to reflect these. The draft Corporate Plan for 2012 – 2015 has been developed taking into account the additional fourteen priority areas recommended by Cabinet, feedback from engagement workshops and the draft budget information and options set out in the Budget and Policy Framework Update.

Councillor Hanson proposed, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:-

“(1)      That Cabinet approve the draft Corporate Plan 2012 – 2015 with minor agreed amendments.

(2)        That the updated draft Corporate Plan be circulated to Cabinet Members prior to consideration by Council on 14 May 2012 “

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)        That Cabinet approve the draft Corporate Plan 2012 – 2015 with minor agreed amendments.

(2)        That the updated draft Corporate Plan be circulated to Cabinet Members prior to consideration by Council on 14 May 2012.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Head of Community Engagement

Reasons for making the decision:

The Corporate Plan was a central part of the council’s Policy Framework stating the key priorities, the actions that were necessary to deliver the priorities and the outcomes that the council hoped to achieve for the district.  The decision enables the Council to consider its Corporate Plan in good time to provide a clear framework for officers to work within.