On 19 October 2021, Full Council will discuss the adoption of a new 10-year Business Plan for Wiltshire Council. This will follow its consideration by Cabinet on 27 September 2021.
The Business Plan sets the council’s overarching strategy and its purpose is to enable Chief Officers to lead and manage the organisation to achieve the priorities and objectives set by elected members. In September, each select committee will be invited to comment on Business Plan priorities relevant to their remits, with comments being referred to Cabinet to consider at its meeting on 27 September 2021.
The final Business Plan will be an influential document when OS is developing its forward work programme, with experience showing that OS is most impactful when it focuses on the council’s key priorities. Alongside select committee engagement on the Business Plan, the chairs and vice-chairs will be meeting with their Executive counterparts and directors during September to gain a more informed understanding of plans and projects and to discuss how OS can engage most constructively. These two processes should lead to a well-developed OS forward work programme that reflects the key priorities of the council.
Minutes:
The Chairman informed the Committee that Full Council would discuss the adoption of a new 10-year Business Plan for Wiltshire, after prior consideration by both the Overview and Scrutiny (O&S) Management Committee and Cabinet.
He explained that the Business Plan was a key document for the Health Select Committee as it would set the health and care priorities for the Council and in turn the work programme of the Committee.
As the Vice-Chairman and he were both members of the O&S Management Committee, the Chairman stated that they would have the opportunity to ask health and care related questions at their next meeting. However, as the plan had yet to be published at the time of the Health Select Committee meeting, the Chairman asked members if they would welcome the opportunity to meet informally before the meeting of the O&S Management Committee to scrutinise the Business Plan.
Cllr Laura Mayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Skills, outlined the four key priorities identified in the plan:
• Empowered people.
• A resilient society.
• A thriving economy.
• A sustainable environment.
The Deputy Leader explained that the final document would be written thematically, rather than having a chapter for each department, so health and care issues were woven throughout.
Given the limited time available for Health Select to scrutinise the Business Plan before it was submitted to the O&S Management Committee, she welcomed the suggestion by the Chairman to hold an informal meeting. Furthermore, she invited members of the Committee to make suggestions about what they would like to be included.
During the discussion the following points were made:
• Members did indicate that they would appreciate the opportunity to hold an informal meeting.
• As the government’s white paper on health and social care had yet to be published, members asked if there was scope for potential adjustments to the Council’s Business Plan to reflect changes in government policy. Jane Davies Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, SEND, Transition and Inclusion noted that there would be an annual review process of the Business Plan so it could be adapted.
• Members stated that they would like that they would like the Shared Lives programme to feature prominently in the document.
• Members noted that early intervention, prevention and the need to create a healthier population were features of the current business plan and expressed a desire that they also feature strongly on the forthcoming plan.
• Given the growing reliance on digital services, members also noted that they would like the role of technology to feature prominently.
Resolved:
1. To thank the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, SEND, Transition and Inclusion for the update on the Business Plan.
2. To invite Health Select Committee members to attend an informal meeting upon the publication of the Business Plan, but prior to the meeting of the O&S Management Committee on 21 September. This meeting would provide an opportunity to discuss and the feed any questions they would like raised at the Management Committee relating to the Business Plan to the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman.