Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director of Resources which presented the draft updated Council Plan, covering the period 2022 to 2026, prior to submission for consideration and approval by Full Council in June (for copy of report see file of minutes).

Councillor Hopgood thanked the Corporate Director and his team in preparing the updated council plan. She emphasised the wide-ranging public services provided by the council and had a significant role in providing for everyone who lived, visited, and worked in the county. In acknowledging that there were many issues to address she advised how important it was to do this in partnership with others in the public and private and voluntary sectors. Strong community cohesion was required and focus on what happens the most to its residents and businesses. She advised of the work that had been undertaken in refreshing the council prioities since the local elections last year and advised of those decisions that had been undertaken in line with these priorities.  She welcomed that going forward the plan would be refreshed annually at the February council meeting, and would ensure full incorporation of corporate and financial planning, and by doing it would keep it focussed and relevant.

Councillor Shield welcomed the refreshed and updated plan and thanked the corporate director and his team for the work undertaken. He welcomed the revised plan which set out the actions that the council would lead on which had a revised focus. He explained how it was underpinned by a series of corporate strategies and delivery plans, however the focus on the document was the key issues giving the example of the poverty strategy action plan agreed earlier in the year by cabinet. He advised of his support for the annual refresh of the plan, and how by moving towards updating this annually in future any issues could be picked up and the plan re-focussed more often than previously.

Councillor Wilkes supported the plan, and he was delighted it now included the environment and climate change at its core.

 Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.