To approve the council’s corporate plan – county plan 2020/24.

Council considered a report by the Leader which set out the proposed corporate plan. The Leader moved the report and proposed the corporate plan, now to be referred to as the county plan 2020/2024, for approval. The Leader outlined the priorities contained in the plan, consisting of environment, community and economy and explained that the plan set the direction of the council for the next four years.

The deputy leader seconded the report and outlined the consultation that had taken place in the development of the Plan and the importance of highlighting the work undertaken with partners and the involvement of young people.

In discussion the following principal points were raised:

·        It was important that connectivity for small, rural communities was acknowledged. It was hoped that villages without services and infrastructure would not be required to accept housing targets in the review of the core strategy;

·        The Talk Community initiative was raised and good practice around adults’ social care.

·        A comment was made that the delivery of the priorities and objectives in the Plan was key, not merely their presentation.

·        The Plan should contain details of depressed wages locally and relatively expensive housing and travel costs. Average earnings were below levels in the local region.

·        It was felt that there should be greater reference to key partners in the Plan.

·        Some members felt that they could not support the Plan without the western bypass to drive growth. The loss of funding resulting from the discontinuation of the scheme would impact on growth and undermine the delivery of the priorities in the Plan.

·        The Plan represented a shift of emphasis that placed residents and the community at the heart of decisions that affected them.

·        The western bypass would not relieve the congestion caused by the local residents travelling in the City which accounted for 85% of journeys.

·        Local businesses should be supported by the Plan to drive jobs and growth.

·        The promotion of tourism was important.

·        The Plan ensured that the environment and response to the climate emergency were at the heart of the council’s work.

The County Plan 2020/2024 was put to the vote and carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED: That the County Plan 2020/2024, as set out in appendix A to the report, is approved.