Agenda item

(Director of Governance) to consider the attached report.

The Director of Governance, Colleen O’Boyle introduced the report on the proposed Corporate Plan Key Action Plan for 2017/18. The corporate plan included the aims and objectives which were the Council’s highest level strategic intentions.  These aims and objectives were delivered by an action plan produced annually, progressing the activities to achieve the aims and objectives across their lifetimes.

2017/18 would be the third year in the lifetime of the aims and objectives and a draft key action plan for 2017/18 has been produced building on activities identified in the action plan for the current fiscal year.

Key Action Plans are monitored by the Select Committees, Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet on a quarterly basis. As living documents they could be subject to change or development as appropriate to reflect emerging priorities or unforeseen circumstances.

The Committee noted the following amendments:

·         That under Aim (iii), Key Objective (b), item 2 – “trial with Northgate a system for remote working for Business Control and Development Control Officers” should be “for Building Control and Development…”; and

·         An addition under Aim (ii), objective (a) - that the Local Plan should have been carried over from last year and delivered in accordance with the Council’s agreed Local Development Scheme. A report on this will be at the next cabinet meeting.

Relevant part of the action plan will go to the appropriate Select Committee for review.

The Committee then considered the Key Action Plan page by page.

Aim (i), Key Objective (a), item 2 – Councillor Brookes asked about the sale of 'Higher Value' empty Council properties and Councillor Sartin noted that it had a target date for July 2017 would this be when we start selling houses? Mr Macnab said that he would ask Mr Hall to let them know where they could get more information. Councillor Philip said the target date depended on the government issuing of the legislation.

Councillor Wixley asked if we had any ‘higher value’ properties. Mr Macnab replied that if a property became void, and it was a three bed or larger property, it could fall into the higher value band and be put up for sale.

Councillor Murray said that the detail would be in the regulations, it may be that every three bed property that became void would be classed as ‘higher value’ and we may be forced to sell it. This was debated at the last Communities Select Committee.

Aim (i), Key Objective (b), item 1 – Councillor S Kane asked if there was an update on phase1 of the Council housebuilding programme. He was told that at present there was not.

Aim (i), Key Objective (c), item 1 – Councillor Sartin asked about the long term Management Agreement with Broxbourne BC on the management of Lowewood Museum. Did the Portfolio Holder have any comments on what has been in the press recently? Councillor H Kane said that it had taken them by surprise. At present we were negotiating and she would update members as soon as she knew something.

Aim (i), Key Objective (c), item 5 – Councillor Murray noted that this said “to appoint a new leisure management partner…” – but we could still keep with our existing partner when we renewed the contract. Perhaps the word ‘new’ was inappropriate at this point. Councillor H Kane replied that they were still looking at new companies but agreed that the wording should be rejigged and the word ‘new’ removed.

Aim (iii), Key Objective (b), item 1 – Councillor Sartin sought clarification on the term ‘pay to Stay’. Ms O’Boyle said that we had not received the regulations as yet, but it was probably about the salary levels of people renting council homes. Councillor Stallan agreed saying they would be looking at income level of residents  and their ability to get on council housing lists, as social housing should be for people in need. Councillor Murray noted that we were waiting for details from the government and added that this policy was based on the actions of just one man and if this went through it would ghettoise our social housing, turning them into low pay ghettos. Councillor Knight said that this was discussed at the last Communities Select Committee. She observed that when she was growing up she found it quite unjust when there were people who could afford private rent keeping housing away from people who needed it.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee considered and commented on the proposed Corporate Plan Key Action Plan for 2017-18.