Agenda item

To consider the draft Wiltshire Council Business Plan 2022 – 2032. A report of the Chief Executive and the draft Business Plan documents are attached. 

The Chairman invited Councillor Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council, to present in respect of the draft Business Plan 2022-2032. The Business Plan Principles had been agreed by Cabinet in September 2022.

Councillor Clewer moved the recommendations in the covering report, which was seconded by Councillor Laura Mayes, Deputy Leader of the Council.

It was explained that the draft Business Plan set out the council’s overarching strategy for the next ten years and had been agreed by Cabinet on 1 February 2022. It was stated the Plan would be a living document, which would evolve over time. It would focus on guiding themes, such as early intervention and prevention, and tacking inequality, which would work across different council departments and in working with partners such as voluntary groups, parish councils, the military and others to address issues cohesively and collaboratively. Underpinning the Business Plan would be service delivery plans, which would interlock with the main plan to deliver on its aims. There would be metrics to measure whether the council was achieving its aims and would be reviewed informally and formally by Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny. Data would be utilised to identify the most relevant metrics in order to deliver needed changes and outcomes. Councillor Clewer thanked Cabinet and officers on developing the plan, to set priorities and initiate delivery.

The Chairman then invited comments from Group Leaders.

Councillor Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, commented that the plan was an improvement on the plan approved in 2017, which had also been a ten year plan. He welcomed the idea of the scorecard included, although he still had concerns around metrics and performance measures and could not support the plan as presented.

Councillor Graham Wright, deputy for the Independent Group Leader, was positive about the plan and the intended metrics. During the Budget item, as Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, Councillor Wright commented on the Committee’s consideration of the Business Plan, including developing a plan to assess the consideration of performance metrics.

Councillor Ricky Rogers, Leader of the Labour Group, was pleased that the plan would be an evolving document and would welcome regular updates on performance and supported the proposal.

A public question from Colin Gale P22-13 was received between Minutes 8 and 9 relating to this item. He asked whether freight management was being considered seriously and resources were in place. Councillor Dr Mark McClelland as Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Street Scene and Flooding said the work was not on hold, but dependent on national work run by national agencies.

The Chairman then invited comments in debate.

Comments in debate in support of the plan included that it would be a living document, and that it included details for the measuring of performance planned for each service area, with metrics available to monitor progress, and that it was a well-designed proposal.

Comments in debate in opposition to the proposal included that whilst it was an improvement, some did not feel appropriate performance measurement or details of monitoring has been provided at the meeting in order to measure its success, or comparison with other local authorities.

There were also specific comments about a lack of a strategic rail strategy, the historical Wiltshire Compact with the voluntary sector, reference to wind power, the presentation details of the draft plan, and the lack of reference to the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy and the importance of carbon neutral targets.

Councillor Clewer responded to comments raised in debate. He highlighted that the report included details of the metrics that would be included, with targets to follow. Initial targets would be set and considered at future Cabinet and Council meetings. In relation to the Wiltshire Compact he felt this needed to be simpler to have an understanding with other organisations. He confirmed a meeting was being organised between Wiltshire Council and some Town and Parish Councils to work on building strong relationships and would look at working with the voluntary sector.

He stated that detail about wind turbines would be a matter for the Local Plan and would be in-line with national policy, and that transport needed to be decarbonised, but that this required infrastructure investment.

He emphasised the document was setting out the strategic direction of the council, and how this would be achieved.

At the conclusion of debate, it was then,

Resolved:

That Council agree the Business Plan 2022-2032.