Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive

Cabinet is to: 

(1)   Recommend the adoption of the Corporate plan to Full Council (Appendix 1 of the Cabinet report);

(2)   Delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, the authority to finalise the:

a.      Corporate Plan for presenting to Full Council 25 February in line with the budget decisions, service plans and any other consequent changes

b.      Associated set of corporate measures to underpin the Plan by to be developed alongside the service planning process

Councillor Clarke addressed Cabinet. Referring to the report, he was unable to separate the consultation responses to the Corporate Plan from those for the Budget. He echoed comments from the public quoted in the report, which suggested a lack of detailed information on budget proposals and poor understanding of anticipated outcomes. For example, there was no information about likely job losses and the resulting impact on services.

Councillor Mildren addressed Cabinet and reminded them that the main debate would be held the following night at the Full Council meeting. He praised the appearance of the Corporate Plan document but warned that the Council would be judged on its content.  He then challenged a statement referring to a reduction in income from Council Tax and commented that Councillors would speak up at the Full Council meeting.

Councillor B Hoare, as relevant Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Cabinet. He commented that the consultation had been to verify public views on key priorities and drew attention to figures in the report indicating the public’s high value of the town centre.  He pointed out that there had been a greater response to this year’s consultation with a larger number of public and forum meetings than before.  He recommended that the document be passed to Full Council for adoption.

Councillor B Markham praised the team that produced document in such an accessible format. He made clear that the budget had to align with corporate objectives and service plans along with the actions set out in the report.

Councillor Beardsworth referred to the hard work put in to ensure people could stay in their homes and praised the good initiatives that demonstrated what the Council was trying to achieve in spite of difficult financial constraints.

Councillor PD Varnsverry referred to the public’s perception of the importance of leisure and cultural activities as set out in the report.  He highlighted the public support for the ‘Crackers’ pyrotechnic arts event, organised in partnership with the Royal & Derngate and The World Famous, which attracted an audience of 20,000 to Delapre Abbey; and Street Football in the town, provided by the Sports Development Team.

Councillor Church commented on the necessity for a sound policy framework to continue to create a ‘vibrant and viable town centre’ and hoped that the County Council did not cut funding to the Joint Planning Unit, which was needed for the policy framework.

Referring to the public’s desire for a cleaner, safer town, Councillor Crake congratulated the environment teams for their continued efforts throughout the recent bad weather.

Councillor B Hoare then summed up and reminded Cabinet of the importance of being realistic and open and not promising to deliver activities that were not affordable.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet: 

(1)   Recommend the adoption of the Corporate plan to Full Council (Appendix 1);

(2)   Delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, the authority to finalise the:

a.      Corporate Plan for presenting to Full Council 25 February in line with the budget decisions, service plans and any other consequent changes

b.      Associated set of corporate measures to underpin the Plan to be developed alongside the service planning process