Cabinet
3 October 2011
Overview and Scrutiny
4 October 2011
Agenda Item No______8_______
North Norfolk District Council corporate planning framework:
•
Corporate Plan 2011 – 2015
•
Financial Plan update 2011/12 - 2014/15, strategic context and organisational
workstreams
Summary:
The corporate plan is the overarching component of the Council’s
policy framework and this new version will provide strategic direction
through to 2015. It is presented as a high level document outlining
the priorities for the authority and the key actions which the
organisation will take to achieve those priorities. It provides the
context for the budget and has been prepared alongside the Council’s
anticipated resourcing framework. Implications for the allocation of
financial and other resources, risk, sustainability, and equalities will
stem primarily from the implementation of actions and delivery of
services designed to secure the stated priority outcomes.
With effect from April 2012, the corporate plan will be supported by an
annual action plan, setting out in greater detail the priority activities
planned for the forthcoming year, a suite of service business plans
detailing specific service level activity across the same period and a
revised performance monitoring and reporting framework.
Conclusions:
Recommendations:
The corporate plan sits at the heart of the Council’s policy framework.
It sets out the corporate priorities, the outcomes by which success can
be measured and the actions designed to deliver those outcomes.
Achieving the plan will be challenging in the current economic climate.
However, it will provide the Council with clear direction and guidance
in work planning and resource allocation, and in service delivery.
1. CABINET is requested to recommend approval of the
Corporate Plan by Full Council at its meeting on 19 October
2011 and note the updated financial forecast for 2011/20122014/2015
2. OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE is requested to
consider the Corporate Plan and refer any comments to the
meeting of Full Council on 19 October 2011
Cabinet
3 October 2011
Overview and Scrutiny
4 October 2011
Cabinet member(s):
Ward(s) affected:
Councillor Helen Eales
All
Councillor Wyndham Northam
Contact Officers, telephone
numbers, and e-mails:
Philip Burton, Chief Executive
01263 516000
philip.burton@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Sheila Oxtoby, Deputy Chief Executive
01263 516077
sheila.oxtoby@north-norfolk.gov.uk
North Norfolk District Council Corporate Plan 2011-2015
1. This report summarises the status and purpose of the corporate plan and is supported by
two related documents attached as appendices 1 and 2:
• North Norfolk District Council Corporate Plan 2011-2015
• Financial Plan Update 2011/12 - 2014/15, Strategic Context and Organisational
Workstreams.
2. The corporate plan is the central overarching strategy document which sits at the heart of
the Council’s policy framework as set out in the Constitution. Historically, the plan has been
compiled to cover a 3-year period with Changing Gear, the most recent version, running
from 2008-2011. However, when reviewing the arrangements for business forwardplanning, it was agreed that we should move to a 4-year timeframe to coincide with the
district council election and administration cycle.
3. The new corporate plan is presented in a different style and format compared with its
predecessors. It is a high level strategic document and by April 2012 will be part of a
comprehensive management and performance framework which will be framed by the
corporate plan and comprise additionally an annual action plan, a suite of service business
plans and a revised performance monitoring and reporting scheme. This will be built around
a set of local performance indicators designed to measure levels of success in achieving
priority actions and outcomes, and service management indicators selected to aid managers
in overseeing service development and delivery.
Plan progress will be monitored through the Performance and Risk Management Board and
quarterly performance reports will be analysed by Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny
Committee.
4. The plan is structured around five priorities:
• Jobs and the local economy
• Housing and infrastructure
Cabinet
3 October 2011
Overview and Scrutiny
4 October 2011
• Coast, countryside and built heritage
• Localism
• Delivering the vision – an organisation that is shaped to achieve success and to be fit
for purpose in the rapidly changing and volatile local government environment
5. The evidence base supporting the priorities was derived from a series of consultative
exercises undertaken towards the end of 2010 involving partner organisations working in
North Norfolk, local councillors, council staff and members of the public, and the political
mandate underpinning the election of a new administration in May 2011. A wide range of
data and opinion was distilled into core themes and translated into the priorities set out in
paragraph 4.
6. The choice of actions through which to deliver the priorities has been based upon a clear
appreciation of the impact of working within an increasingly tough financial context and the
expectation now more than ever before that the Council will do those things that really
matter to local people, will demonstrate value for money through our services and will target
activities which will make a genuine difference and improve the health and wellbeing of the
District.
7. Equally significant is the way in which the plan has been structured to accommodate the
coalition government’s emerging agenda of policy change and reform – localism, welfare
provision, planning policy and economic recovery through growth. The Council needs to be
increasingly alert to the relationships between these policy strands and to ensure that the
corporate planning process remains sufficiently flexible to benefit from new government
initiatives and funding incentives such as the new homes bonus, without compromising our
underlying values and objectives.
8. Appendix B attached to this report provides a synopsis of the national context, the backdrop
against which our new corporate plan is being launched. It also summarises the Council’s
financial position and government plans for an overhaul of the way in which local
government is funded, and looks at new funding opportunities. The last section details the
various workstreams which have been instigated to identify options for cost savings as we
enter the 2012/2013 budget process. All of these issues at the national and local levels are
relevant and must be taken into account if we are to ensure that North Norfolk District
Council continues to be a viable and effective organisation delivering quality and affordable
services which meet the needs and priorities of our local communities and if we are to be fit
for purpose in achieving the outcomes set out in the corporate plan.
Impact of the corporate plan
9. The delivery of the plan must be assessed against the following considerations:
• Financial
The plan will be rolled out within the projected resourcing envelope through to 2014/15.
The government is reviewing the local government funding mechanism and there is
uncertainty about the potential impact any changes will have from 2013/14 onwards
beyond the current 2-year grant-funding settlement. However, annual action planning
within the 4-year plan period will allow greater flexibility and adaptability in responding to
either negative or positive external funding impacts and a detailed medium-term financial
plan is being prepared to support the annual budget process.
Cabinet
3 October 2011
Overview and Scrutiny
4 October 2011
• Risk
The key risk relates to delivery failure which would impact on the Council’s reputation
and would hinder achievement of the priority outcomes. We are able to mitigate that risk
through ensuring that as much of the plan as possible is built upon choices that the
Council is free to make and determine itself and through the flexible structure and annual
action planning process which will allow changes in emphasis and resource allocation as
a result of the effect of any future external decisions by central government. Parts of the
plan will require strong partnership with other organisations and we must therefore work
from the outset with those partners to ensure common understanding of roles and
commitment to achieving clear outcomes.
The corporate risk register will be updated with the adoption of the plan and will be used
as the basis for monitoring ongoing corporate and strategic risks.
• Sustainability
Actions stemming from the corporate plan will be compliant with the Council’s
sustainability policies.
• Equality
Actions stemming from the corporate plan will be compliant with the Council’s equality
policies and will meet our statutory obligations.
Conclusion and Recommendations
10.
The corporate plan sits at the heart of the Council’s policy framework. It sets out the
corporate priorities, the outcomes by which success can be measured and the actions
designed to deliver those outcomes. Achieving the plan will be challenging in the current
economic climate. However it will provide the Council with clear direction and guidance
in work planning and resource allocation, and in service delivery.
10.1 Cabinet is requested to recommend approval of the corporate plan by Full Council at its
meeting on 19 October 2011 and note the updated financial forecast for 2011/122014/2015
10.2
Overview and Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider the corporate plan and
refer any comments to the meeting of Full Council on 19 October 2011
CPFinal/PJB210911