Issue - meetings

Recommendations:

1.          That the Executive approves the draft Council Plan and recommends it to the County Council for approval at its meeting on 22 February 2023, and

2.          That the Executive recommends that the County Council authorises the Chief Executive to make any necessary changes to the text, including reflecting decisions made by the County Council on the budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy, and updated performance data and key performance indicators.

Considered – A report of the Assistant Director – Policy, Partnerships and Communities seeking agreement of the Executive to submit the first Council Plan for North Yorkshire Council to the County Council for adoption.

County Councillor David Chance introduced the report, noting that the Council Plan 2023 – 2027 would be a key component of the policy framework and closely linked with the budget setting process. It sets out the Council’s vision, ambitions and priorities over the next 4 years. The Council Plan is a ‘live’ document and will be refreshed annually. It will include an introduction to the new unitary authority and how it will deliver services locally and how it will measure performance. The plan has been developed by officers from all eight councils and the findings from the ‘Let’s Talk’ campaign have been used to inform the ambitions and priorities included in the plan. An early draft was considered by Corporate & Partnerships Overview & Scrutiny Committee and a full draft shared with all county councillors for comment. A full Equality Impact Assessment is included along with a Climate Change Impact assessment. The Council Plan has been developed in the context of public sector financial restraint, and unprecedented service demand pressures. The Covid-19 pandemic and current cost of living rises have only exacerbated this, and we know that the long-term financial position remains uncertain. The anticipated impacts of our ambitions and priorities are therefore positive ones. Due regard to equalities and climate change will be paid when making decisions on actions to realise these ambitions and priorities where appropriate.

The five key themes will be: Place & Environment; Economy; Health & wellbeing; People and Organisation.

Neil Irving, Assistant Director – Policy, Partnerships and Communities thanked everyone involved in the development of the Council Plan 2023 – 2027 and noted the changes proposed to the Council Plan in 12 months time are likely to be more significant.

Resolved –

1.       That the Executive approves the draft Council Plan and recommends it to the County Council for approval at its meeting on 22 February 2023, and

2.       That the Executive recommends that the County Council authorises the Chief Executive to make any necessary changes to the text, including reflecting decisions made by the County Council on the budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy, and updated performance data and key performance indicators.