Agenda item

The Leader of the Council presented the Corporate Plan for 2023 to 2027 for formal adoption by Full Council in accordance with the unanimous recommendation of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee on 8 March, 2023.

The new Corporate Plan, which set out the Council’s proposed strategic aims and objectives, was the culmination of over 12 months of extensive and collaborative stakeholder sessions to which all Members had been invited.  These sessions had included workshops linked to the development of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and had regard to the Council’s environmental sustainability aspirations.

The proposals set out in the Plan had been informed by statistical evidence of needs, issues and opportunities available to the Council, as published in the annual “State of the District” report, a copy of which was attached to the report.  The concept of the Corporate Plan was well embedded across the organisation and an internal audit conducted in November 2021 had returned an opinion of substantial assurance, particularly in the areas of stakeholder engagement, communications and the management of strategic risk.  The Plan carried across the Council’s vision to ensure that West Lindsey remained a great place to be, where people, businesses and communities could thrive and reach their potential.

The changes made to the previous Plan included an updated policy context, a change in tone and language to ensure clear understanding of its purpose, updated strategic aims and objectives and outcomes to reflect the priorities of Members.

In summary, the Plan was ambitious with clear objectives and expected outcomes.

In presenting the updated Corporate Plan the Leader expressed his thanks to Members and Officers for their hard work in bringing the Plan up to the point where it could be recommended for formal adoption.  He recognised that there were some very challenging issues facing the Council over the next four years and the Plan had been developed with a view to ensuring that these issues could be addressed effectively and efficiently.  Of particular importance was putting customers at the heart of everything the Council did.  The Plan was intended to deliver economic growth in a sustainable way and protect the health and wellbeing of local communities, particularly those who were most vulnerable.  The Council remained in a reasonably strong financial position and was able to continue to deliver high performing, value for money services.

Members were supportive of the new Plan but wished to recognise the work undertaken by the Council’s former ruling administration to ensure a seamless progression to an updated Plan that sought to address all emerging issues.  Officers also clarified the position around some of the evidence data relating to levels of obesity within the District.  It was confirmed that there were some quirks in the interpretation of the figures and that Officers would circulate more information outside this meeting which, hopefully would better explain the position.

Having been moved and seconded, it was

RESOLVED that the recommendation from the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee meeting on 8 March, 2023  be accepted and the new Corporate Plan for the period 2023 to 2027 be approved and adopted.