Agenda item

(To receive a report from Verity Druce (Commercial Manager), which provides a timetable for the development and approval of the Corporate Plan, updated draft content and summarises the feedback from the first OSMB working group meeting)

Consideration was given to a report by the Commercial Manager, which provided a timetable for the development and approval of the Corporate Plan, updated draft content and summarised the feedback from the first Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) working group meeting.

Members were advised that the Council was in the process of creating a new Corporate Plan to outline Lincolnshire County Council's vision and strategic ambitions; what success for Lincolnshire means and what the Council intended to do to achieve success for Lincolnshire.

The Corporate Plan working group had met on the 30 September 2019. Feedback had been provided at Appendix A to the report.

Members received a presentation which detailed the following:

·       The Background and Council decision to date

·       The Development and approval process

·       The External Stakeholder Engagement activity

·       The Council's proposed vision, remaining unchanged – working for a better future

·       The Council's proposed ambitions – people and communities will have high aspirations; the opportunity to enjoy life to the full; thriving environments and good value Council services

·       The next steps for forming the Plan.

Members were referred to the full draft Corporate Plan, which was set out at Appendix B to the report.

Members were invited to ask questions in which the following points were noted:

·       Members were advised that officers had communicated with district councils via the Chief Executive/Leaders meetings that took place between Lincolnshire local government authorities. Feedback from district councils had been positive. A member requested that a copy of the agenda for the meeting of Chief Executives and Leaders be circulated if possible.

·       Relationship managers had engaged with parish councils through a grouping system. It was felt that the set timescales did not allow officers to meet with each individual parish and town council to seek feedback on the Plan. A member requested that a copy of an agenda for the parish and town council group be circulated if possible and clarity be provided on who was represented, how often they met, how they were communicated with, and what the purpose was of the group. 

·       It was suggested that there was an opportunity for dual-hatted members to actively engage with the district councils regarding the Plan.

·       Concerns were raised over the wording of some of the ambitions set out in the draft Corporate Plan being too definitive, with words such as 'must' and 'will' being used. It was questioned whether ambitions should be included if they weren't 100% achievable, and whether there could be legal challenges if ambitions were not achieved. Officers agreed to discuss this with the Chief Legal Officer and provide an answer to the Board.   

·       Officers advised that the ambitions set out in the draft Plan were seen to be aspirational and in line with the Corporate Plans of other local authorities.

·       The Commercial  Manager explained that the Council was engaging with the Lincolnshire's heritage services as a way of communicating with the voluntary and community sector, via face to face and electronic communication.

·       One member suggested that the Council could make use of Lincolnshire's voluntary sector forum as a way to engage with a wider range of volunteer and community groups.

·       It was suggested that the Council's Community Engagement team could be beneficial in seeking feedback from members of the public on the draft Plan.

·       It was noted that there would be plans for each of the Council's directorates, which will set out measurable targets to be monitored.

·       Officers hoped to receive further information about the Fairer Funding Deal before the end of 2019. Members were advised that officers would be looking to align the Council's finances with the key aspirations set out in the Corporate Plan, with an ambition to clearly define the Medium Term Financial Strategy alongside the delivery of the ambitions.

·       The Executive Director – Resources confirmed that the One Public Estate group was still meeting and the recent peer review had suggested that the work had been successful. It was agreed that officers would request an update from the Executive Director – Commercial and provide feedback to the Board.

·       It was confirmed that the ambition to 'Deliver 'clean growth' in the right place and at the right time' was in line with the Council's Growth Strategy.

·      Concern was raised as to whether the Corporate Plan articulated all that the Council would do to achieve the full ambitions.

·      It was suggested that examples should be added wherever possible throughout the document.

Members reviewed the four key ambitions set out in the draft Corporate Plan and were invited to comment on each ambition individually and suggest any changes or additions. 

Ambition 1 – People and communities have high aspirations

·         Members highlighted that some of the aspirations set out in the Plan were likely to raise the public expectations of what the Council could deliver. Members reiterated the need to ensure that the wording in the Plan reflected achievable aspirations.

·         It was suggested that the Plan also looked to include an ambition to also help develop the skills of those over the age of 40.

·         It was suggested that an additional point be included about needing more large businesses and more highly skilled roles.

·         It was highlighted that the draft Plan did not cover the issue of educating parents as well, in terms of social education as opposed to academic education, to address issues such as five generations being unemployed.

Ambition 2 – People and communities will have the opportunity to enjoy life to the full

·         Members proposed that more detail be included within the Plan as to how the Council sought to achieve the aspirations.

·         Members emphasised the importance in working in partnership with the National Health Service in the development of children.

·         Members were pleased to see that there was an emphasis on Children's Centres and supporting children.

·         Members suggested that the Plan should include a point to recognise children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Ambition 3 – People and communities will have thriving environments

·         Members emphasised the need for the Council to develop an eco-friendly approach wherever possible and supported an approach to reduce the Council's carbon footprint where possible.

·         Members highlighted the importance of improving infrastructure and better public transport links in order to tackle rural isolation and poverty. It was suggested that an additional point in relation to improving cross-border public transport should be included as it was essential to allow the public to have access to wider environments. 

·         Members acknowledged the importance of sustainability in order to have thriving communities.

·         It was recognised that due to changes within the Health Service, public transport would become essential for transporting people to surgeries and hospitals. Members acknowledged the need for partnership working to improve transport links. 

·         It was suggested that an additional point should be included regarding promoting investment in communities to resolve community based issues such as making the environment look good e.g. hedges as opposed to broken fences.

·         It was suggested that more detail should be added to explain the bullet point 'Deliver 'clean growth' in the right place and at the right time',  including being specific about climate change.

·         It was questioned whether the statement in the narrative '…which will mean improving our infrastructure across the county…' was achievable.

People and communities will have good value council services

·         Members suggested that there was a need to better understand what the most important issues were within communities and how these could be addressed. It was recommended that officers write to all County Councillors to help get a sense of what the biggest issues were within each community and what the public would like to see improved.

·         Members recognised an opportunity to better use the Council's buildings for the benefit of local communities. 

·         It was suggested that more detail should be added to explain the bullet point 'Design our processes and services to meet customer's needs'.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the feedback from the OSMB working group  and the content of the draft Corporate Plan be noted;

2.    That the comments made, as set out above, be considered in the development of the draft Corporate Plan.