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RESOLVED
 
That the Executive:
 

a)       
Noted the purpose and importance of the Corporate Plan and
the suggestion that a more user-friendly name is used when
communicating the plan with the wider public.

 

b)       
Approved the key stages, activities and indicative milestones
for development of the Corporate Plan through to its formal
adoption at Full Council as set out in the report.
 
 
Reasons for
Recommendations:
 

·               
The Council has a requirement to have a Corporate Plan that
has been formally adopted by Full Council, setting out its aims,
ambitions and priorities for the future.

 

·               
The stages, activities and indicative milestones set out in
the report provide a time-efficient route to adopting a Corporate
Plan, at the same time, allowing sufficient time for public
engagement, consultation and cross-party policy development and
scrutiny.
 
Alternative Options
Considered:
 

·               
The Executive could have chosen not to have a Corporate Plan
or document of a similar purpose. This is not considered a viable
option.  The requirement for a Corporate Plan is set out in
the Council’s constitution. Not having one would leave a
vacuum in terms of strategy and policy at an overarching level.
This would not sufficiently support the Council’s
decision-making arrangements, particularly when weighing up
strategic options. This would leave the Council in a less resilient
position to withstand external challenge when making key
decisions.

 

·               
The Executive could have chosen not to update its Corporate
Plan, continuing with the Corporate Plan of the previous
Administration. This is not considered a viable option. The
Corporate Plan for 2021-2025 reflects the priorities of the
Council’s previous administration. Although the plan received
cross-party support when adopted, it is widely accepted that the
council and the environment within which is operates has moved on
since 2021. A fresh Corporate Plan provides the new administration
with the opportunity to set out its policies, in close consultation
with members from across the political parties and wider
stakeholders, and to further build on the foundations put in place
by the Council’s previous administration.