To invite Cabinet to commend for Council’s approval the Council and NHS Herefordshire Joint Corporate Plan vision, objectives and long-term outcomes.

The Corporate Policy and Research Manager presented the report on the draft Joint Corporate Plan which was proposed for the Council and NHS Herefordshire.  This draft Joint Corporate Plan (Appendix 1 to the report) comprised the vision, objectives and long term outcomes for the close partnership to achieve over the period 2010-2013 within the context of the proposed Medium Term Financial Strategy (considered as item 5 of the agenda).  To support the Executive in ensuring the implementation of the Joint Corporate Plan, Appendix 2 to the report outlined the performance indicators and associated targets together with key projects and milestones which would be used to achieve this and provide the basis for strategic performance management.   Cabinet was advised that the Joint Corporate Plan had been prepared so as to be affordable within the cautious assumptions about future funding in the Medium Term Financial Strategy but it was nonetheless recognised that it could be necessary to review the Joint Corporate Plan were the financial environment to change significantly in the future.

The Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny was invited to present to Cabinet the comments of the OSC on the Joint Corporate Plan, as follows.  The OSC:

·         Welcomed the new format of the Joint Corporate Plan and its close links with Performance Plus.

·         While acknowledging that Appendix 2 was work in progress for the Executive to complete, emphasised the importance of ensuring that targets were realistic and achievable and that resources were in place to deliver them, noting for example the concern expressed over the resourcing of climate change work.

·         That consideration be given to the specific points relating to long term outcome 1.3, 1.4, 6.1 and 6.2 (as follows):

(i)                  That a better basis for measuring the delivery of long term outcome 1.3 ‘more and higher spending visitors to the county’ would be the STEAM report;

(ii)                The targets for the processing of planning applications against long-term outcome 1.4 ‘improved quality and availability of business accommodation and employment land’ did not contain any basis for measuring the quality of decisions, although it was accepted that this could be difficult to devise;

(iii)               The targets for recycling waste at 6.1 of the Plan should be made more ambitious

(iv)              That the key project of producing planning policy documentation did not seem sufficient in itself in relation to delivering the targets for long term objective 6.2 ‘reduced CO2 emissions and successful adaptation to unavoidable impacts of climate change’.

In discussion Cabinet:

·         Formally recognised and praised the achievement of the report in bringing together the objectives, vision and long term outcomes for both organisations in a clear (colour versions were commended) and SMART approach.  Such an approach embraced the ethos of Total Place and would form the basis of articulating that both organisations were working together to meet the needs of Herefordshire’s residents.

·         Stated that as the Plan became embedded the processes and performance would be easier to monitor.

·         Whilst acknowledging that more work was necessary to refine  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19