Agenda item

To consider the emerging Corporate Plan for 2020 – 2025.

Councillor G.J. Knight, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Housing and Benefits, introduced a report setting out the Council’s vision for the period 2020-2025. It was noted that the Corporate Plan formed part of the Council’s Policy Framework and that a draft, set out in Annex 1 to the report presented, had been developed for discussion purposes. It was recognised that the content would be re-visited following the local elections in May 2019.

Councillor Knight explained that the existing Corporate Plan, adopted in late 2014, would run until 2020. The Executive was informed that significant progress had been made in delivering against these priorities. However, the context in which the Council operated had continued to change, with new opportunities, challenges and uncertainties.

To ensure Council activities and priorities remained relevant to the borough’s residents and businesses it was noted that the revised Corporate Plan had been drafted to take account of the changing national, sub-national ad local political, financial, social, environmental and economic landscape. The draft plan had been prepared taking into account a variety of factors, including: performance in delivering the current plan; updated baseline information about the borough’s characteristics; the changing policy framework; and view of stakeholders and elected councillors.

Councillor Knight highlighted that the draft plan had been centred on Reigate and Banstead being an ambitious Council and that there were opportunities to make the borough an even better place to live, work, visit and do business.

Councillor Knight explained that the draft plan included objectives about: increasing housing choice for residents and local workers; creating stronger and safer communities; protecting the borough’s most vulnerable residents; supporting towns, village centres and the local economy; and providing high quality green spaces and neighbourhood services.

In response to questions about a Motion on Climate Change, considered by Full Council in February 2019, it was explained in response to this debate that the draft Corporate Plan had been updated to include a new cross cutting commitment covering environmental sustainability. This included commitments on reducing waste and emissions, using natural resources more efficiently and reviewing plans in relation to carbon management.

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Housing and Benefits concluded by stating that in order to deliver future priorities the Council needed to generate additional funding and operate more efficiently. It was explained that this was why the draft plan had included objectives about financial sustainability and undertaking commercial activities in order to generate additional income.

During the discussion a range of issues were considered, including:

-       The resources required to deliver the new plan, including the need to invest to ensure the Council had the right skills to deliver priorities across the plan. 

-       The importance of the Council’s forthcoming Capital Investment Strategy and general investment approach which would support delivery of the Council’s objectives.  

-       Responding to the challenges faced by Surrey County Council.

-       The importance of working in partnership and highlighting Horley Town Council and Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council as key partners in delivering the Council’s objectives.  

-       The importance of good communication and implementing effective channel shift.  

Councillor Knight confirmed further work would be undertaken, including informal consultation with councillors, before a revised draft was reported back to the Executive. It was also confirmed, as a key component of the Council’s Policy Framework, that public consultation would be undertaken on the revised draft and that it would be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee before it was adopted by Full Council.

RESOLVED that:

(i)            The Draft Corporate Plan 2020-2025, set out at Annex 1 to the report presented, be approved for discussion with Council members following the local elections in May 2019, and prior to public consultation in accordance with the Council’s Policy Framework Procedure Rules.

(ii)          The Motion presented to Full Council on 8 February 2019 regarding climate change be noted with the following actions agreed:

-       That the Draft Corporate Plan includes a new commitment in relation to environmental sustainability and climate change.

-       That the Council review, and as necessary update, its plans in relation to carbon management and local action on climate change. 

Reason for decision: The Corporate Plan forms part of the Council’s Policy Framework. The draft plan, set out in the report presented, was developed for discussion purposes and would be re-visited following the borough’s all-out elections in May 2019.

Alternative options: To approve the Draft Corporate Plan 2020-2025 for discussion without incorporating any new commitments in relation to environmental sustainability or to not approve the draft Corporate Plan at all and request further work be undertaken before a revised draft is reported back to the Executive.