Decision details

To approve the Corporate Plan 2016-19.

Matter for decision

The report presented the Corporate Plan which set out the strategic objectives for Cambridge City Council for the years 2016-19. This replaced the seven separate portfolios which had been used in previous years.

 

Decision of the Leader

i.             Approved the Corporate Plan 2016-19 subject to the section referring to transport and the City Deal being amended to broadly cover environmental, emissions and public realm issues and that Officers should circulate this amended version to members of the committee.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Corporate Strategy.

 

Ms Blythe addressed the Committee and made the following points:

i.             Questioned how the aspirations of the corporate plan could be developed so residents could actively support officers not only in protecting the green infrastructure and public realm but also identifying solutions to climate change.

ii.            Questioned whether a key performance indicator for City Deal schemes should include resident satisfaction.

iii.           The investing and improving transport section did not include environmental issues or public realm.

iv.          With reference to climate change, questioned whether there should be a key performance indicator which measured emissions which affects residents, children and schools.

The Leader made the following comments:

i.             Believed that one plan was better than separate portfolio plans so that the thread of the local plan and transport issues could run through the plan, the Joint Director of Planning would strengthen this role.

ii.            The City Deal would respond to City Deal queries.

iii.           The Council had a number of low emissions vehicles.

iv.          Air quality was a measurement of emissions and this was included within the Corporate Plan.

v.           The focus was not to end car journeys but during peak periods to reduce the number of cars and large vehicles coming into the ring road area.

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

i.             As the Corporate Plan was a 3 year programme questioned how much effort would be put into reviewing and checking it.

ii.            Questioned whether an additional performance indicator regarding transport, air quality and quality of life could be included.

iii.           Other Scrutiny Committees did not have the opportunity to scrutinise the plan and it should be debated at Council.

The Chief Executive advised that the Corporate Plan would be appended to the Budget Setting Report (BSR) for the Council meeting. The Head of Corporate Strategy advised the Committee that he had taken advice from the Head of Legal Services who had confirmed that the decision on the Corporate Plan was an Executive Decision

 

In response to Members’ questions the Leader said the following:

i.             It was envisaged that an annual report would be brought back to Committee and a significant review would be undertaken next year as the Council faced significant financial pressure.

ii.            Agreed that the section referring to transport and the City Deal within the Corporate Plan should be amended to broadly cover environmental, emissions and public realm and that Officers should circulate this amended version to members of the committee.

The Committee resolved by 8 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Leader approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Leader (and any Dispensations Granted):

Not applicable.