Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive which presented the draft refresh of the Council Plan covering the four-year period 2024-2028 prior to submission to Council for approval (for copy of report see file of minutes).

The Leader of the Council thanked the Head of Corporate Affairs for presenting the report, his team and all the officers and elected members involved in updating the Council Plan.

In June 2022, the Council agreed to receive an updated and refreshed Council Plan on an annual basis going forward presented to County Council alongside the MTFP and budget setting reports in February.

This was the third review since that decision had been taken. The Council had responsibility for a wide range of public services and has a significant role to play in improving the lives of everyone who lives in, visits or works in County Durham.

The County had both opportunities and issues that needed to be addressed. Many issues faced by residents could not be solved by the council alone and many required structural or policy changes at a national government level. However, the Council could make a positive difference though its democratically elected mandate and role as a leader of place. The plan sets out the Councils ambitions for doing so.

The Joint Administration also recognised the critical importance of working in partnership with others across the public, private, voluntary and community sectors.  This is why the Council Plan set out the Councils role in delivering the partnership developed County Durham Vision 2035.

The updated Council Plan, covering the period 2024 to 2028 was underpinned by a wide range of specific strategies and service specific action plans. The plan provided a sharper focus on the Councils ambitions, with more transparent links to the detail of supporting strategies set out within the document.

The plan ensured that resources were being used in a transparent and effective way, by setting out priorities to support our economy, our people, our environment, our communities, and to further improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our council for everyone’s benefit.

Ultimately it set the Council’s ambitions and approach to directing resources, including in the Medium term Financial Plan. Over the last year the Joint Administration had been focussed on the delivery of things that mattered to local people and local communities. Things which supported improved health, wealth and prosperity across the County. For example, the Inclusive Economic Strategy agreed in December 2022 alongside a range of significant capital investments. The progressing of the reopening of the former DLI building as a cultural venue and the significant strides made in terms of turning the redevelopment of Aykley Heads from a concept into reality, as part of ambitious plans for economic growth.

In November 2023, Ofsted carried out a focused visit looking at our arrangements for care-experienced young people - specifically the quality of preparation for adulthood, the quality and suitability of accommodation and care leavers with specific needs. Feedback was positive and identified that “leaders have a detailed understanding of the strengths of this area of service and where further improvements can be made. Senior leaders have further developed and improved services for care-experienced young people”.

There had also been a greater focus on our environment and Climate Emergency Response Plan, where good progress had been made against our ambitions.

Everyone could be rightly proud of our county, our heritage, our people and our culture. It was no coincidence that the County Council had been selected to lead on the Culture theme of the regions devolution plans.

Moving forward, sound management of resources would need to be maintained in delivering on our ambitions and priorities. It was also important to maximise the talents of our people and use technology to provide the best services possible within the resources available. To this end the plan also set out key performance indicators which would be used to measure the success of plans and the operational services delivered. The desire to provide transparency had been embedded in a more comprehensive performance report which had been received and commented upon by Cabinet over recent quarters.

Councillor S McDonnell, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Digital Customer Services and Procurement commented that the Council Plan was shorter, sharper and as a consequence far easier document to digest. A summary of actions taken by the council, underpinned by a series of corporate strategies, service planning and performance arrangements provided detailed information.

To ensure transparency, key documents had been hyperlinked. The Plan set out the actions the Council would lead on and take forward which aligned to the County Durham Vision 2035. Councillor McDonnell was also pleased of the clear focus on environmental matters, listening to our communities and local businesses. She particularly liked the emphasis on the economic strategy which set out the unparalleled level of ambition the Council had for delivering a strong economy and the focus on services that were modern and digital by design, whilst providing alternative for people who are unable to access the internet.

Councillor J Shuttleworth, commented that the Council Plan was easier to understand and the council plan sets out our ambition in this area and how we will build further.

Councillor R Bell, Deputy Leader of the Council, welcomed the change in style and format. The ‘Our Council’ section focussed on finance and would commend that to members.

Councillor E Scott, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Economy and Partnerships explained that the Councill Plan demonstrated that the Council were creating the environment for others to flourish as an enabler and facilitator. Councillor E Scott spoke of the opening of ‘The Rising’ at Raby Castle, the additional space at Locomotion which would house the biggest collection of railway vehicles in the world and plans for a new hotel at the county cricket club. In addition to this the Council had been awarded £1.2m from the Arts Council for the cultural sector, the Cabinet were progressing the DLI project with support of a culture trust outside of the council and the development of a network of employment land within the County. All of this was down to the hard work of the brilliant staff in regeneration in enabling to make this happen.

Councillor J Rowlandson, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Resources Investments and Assets explained that thousands of children would be in employment at the end of the 10-year plan. The vision continued to evolve, with NetPark Phase Three, the exciting innovation centre at Aykley Heads and Industrial estates in Durham and Chester-le-Street continued to improve with further investment.

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.