Corporate Improvement Action Plan

Council Plan action: How the council operates (actions: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8)

Background

This action plan lists the detailed actions that responds to the Corporate Improvement Framework, feedback from staff surveys, together with engagement with officers. 

Actions are council-wide and will be developed and delivered in close collaboration with the Corporate Management Team and all directorates. The four themes in the Corporate Improvement Framework provide structure for this action plan.

The action plan has been developed in consultation with partners, residents, officers and Scrutiny – through both a series of workshops and a consultation which took place throughout May and June.  It will continue to be added to throughout the next three years as the council listens and responds to residents, officers and partners.

Objectives

1.    Strengthen strategic leadership: By September 2024, we will have embedded clear expectations for our senior managers to work as one council delivering a shared vision throughout the organisation;

2.    One City, one council: By September 2024, we will have co-designed both an internal and external approach to what it means to work together in partnership, uniting the council, officers, members and partners together, as one team;

3.    Harness the commitment to the city to deliver ambitions: Develop and implement a communication strategy, establishing different activities to strengthen partnerships and engage the workforce, with a plan prepared by September 2024;

4.    Build a strong foundation: By December 2024, we will have embedded council plan priorities and the performance framework throughout the organisation, reviewing how we support personal development plans and service plans, with a refreshed internal governance structure

                                            

 

Governance

The Corporate Improvement Framework sets the structure for this action plan. The Framework was approved at Executive in May 2024. Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 9 May 2024, 5.30 pm (york.gov.uk) item 129

This action plan is monitored at quarterly Corporate Improvement Board, chaired by the Chief Operating Officer.   The Corporate Improvement Board reports issues by exception to the Corporate Management Team.

The Corporate Improvement Board monitors and steers the council’s continuous corporate improvement journey, with reports covering this Corporate Improvement Action Plan, the Working as One City programme, budget savings plans and progress against the Council Plan.

The Corporate Improvement Action Plan has been developed in response to the Council Plan priority “how we operate” and the significant financial pressures the council is experiencing.  It was informed by the Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Challenge which took place in February 2024 together with staff surveys and feedback from partners.  As part of that process, LGA will assess progress against this action plan in December 2024.  Actions have been described in such a way that allows for progress to be clearly recorded and evidenced.

Progress against this action plan will report publicly at the Leader’s Decision Making Session in November 2024 and May 2025.

This Action plan will continually be refreshed as part of our journey of continuous improvement, dates and interdependencies may change as a result. 

 

 

 

 

The peers presented the Council with 15 recommendations:

 

Recommendation 1: Clarify a strong and consistent narrative that drives the ability of the organisation to take advantage of the opportunities available to York.

 

Recommendation 2: Be clear on the need to prioritise the ambition of the new council plan to focus on key delivery.

 

Recommendation 3: Build on the clear leadership of the new administration to develop a more mature corporate culture that improves appropriate behaviours and relationships within the organisation.

 

Recommendation 4: Consider how the corporate culture and senior arrangements of the organisation can help shape and deliver key priorities.

 

Recommendation 5: Consider how the Corporate Management Team can establish a collective responsibility for the delivery of key priorities and provide clear and consistent positive leadership to the many hard working and dedicated staff.

 

Recommendation 6: Put in place a robust performance management framework that recognises and rewards success and has clear accountability for delivery.

 

Recommendation 7: Ensure improved staff engagement that clearly communicates the shared aims ambitions and priorities of the organisation and celebrates success.

 

Recommendation 8:Establish a well evidenced and robust single version of the medium-term financial position that is collectively owned and understood.

 

Recommendation 9:Improve the financial literacy of the organisation, financial controls and financial grip that focuses on the big picture.

 

Recommendation 10: Develop a clear plan to deliver savings that includes a properly resourced strategic program for change with sound business cases that flow through a strong and more robust governance framework.

 

Recommendation 11: Ensure there are appropriate support resources and structures to enable all members to undertake their respective roles including training, early access to papers and expanded access to information.

 

Recommendation 12: Develop a clear corporate strategy on how City of York Council can better utilise the desire capacity and ability of partners to help the city improve and achieve its ambition.

 

Recommendation 13: Develop stronger, positive and strategic corporate relationships with all partners. Ensure these are more consistent across all partnership working utilising localised good practice (for example the work of the ICB, engagement with the voluntary sector etc). Seek to replicate and embed these positive examples across CYC to establish effective collaboration as being the norm).

 

Recommendation 14: Properly understand the relationship with the Combined Authority and its role in enabling CYC to deliver its key priorities.

 

Recommendation 15: Implement an action plan to address these recommendations with urgency and pace that moves from single tactical interventions to a more strategic corporate approach.


 

Action Plan

Key

Complete

Underway

At risk

Not started

Objective 1 Strengthen strategic leadership: By September 2024, we will have embedded clear expectations for our senior managers to work as one council delivering a shared vision throughout the organisation;

Action

Detail

Accountable officer

Narrative and Evidence Matrix (where appropriate)

Deadline

1.    Refresh the Corporate management team

 

 

1.    Create a working environment for senior leaders to work together with ease and enable officers and the workforce to have access to senior teams.

Recommendations:  R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7

Chief Officer HR

New Corporate Management Team area for visibility and ease for individuals and teams to work with and locate senior team. 

 

March 2024

2.    Build on the senior management restructure to reflect the new structure and support officers understand their directorate and how they contribute to the organisation’s vision.

Recommendations: R1, R5, R7, R12, R13, R14

COO

Work has been undertaken to communicate the new structures, all senior posts are now filled, and team are working well together.   

Evidence: E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8, E9, E12, E13

November 2024

3.    Ensure opportunity for senior management policy and strategy discussions continue to reinforce the organisation’s vision and ambition.

Recommendations: R1, R5, R7, R12, R13, R14

Chief Strategy Officer  

Dedicated Policy and Strategy meetings with senior officers in place and governance structure created.

Evidence: E18, E24

June 2024

2.    Co-design a Leadership framework

1.    Co-design with senior managers of the council expected leadership behaviours, values and actions.  Leadership to be embedded across all levels of the organisation including building relationships with communities.  

Recommendations: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7

Chief Officer HR

Let’s Talk Leadership engagement ongoing.  Roll out of expected behaviours, accountability and responsibility and the York Deal – what officers receive in return for their employment and hardwork.

Evidence: E24

October 2024 and ongoing

2.    Establish senior manager buddying system and shadowing opportunities for support and challenge to help build confidence, capabilities and share good practice.

Recommendations: R1, R3

 

 

Chief Officer HR

Buddying system promoted to all staff not just senior managers, felt this was an important offer, in addition to the existing buddying arrangements in place for new starters.  Guidance promoted in October 2024, evaluation will take place in 6 months.

Evidence: E8

October 2024

3.    Redesign the roles, relationships and responsibilities

1.    Following approval of the new Corporate Management Team, develop the framework for the review of roles which directly report into the Corporate Management Team, including job naming conventions (known as the CLG review 2).

Recommendations: R1, R2, R4, R5

Chief Officer HR

Ongoing work, engagement with Leading Together cohort ongoing, further work to continue re defining Senior Manager grades

Completed by May 2025

2.    Develop a Managing Customer Relations Policy to help ensure both residents and officers understand their own roles and responsibilities.

Recommendations: R3, R5, R7

Director of Housing and Communities

Currently with Talk About panel as part of consultation agreed with Scrutiny.  Presentation to Talk About panel delayed due to other consultations

March 2025

3.    Start the journey to become a trauma-informed council, training to ensure all officers understand their own role in supporting residents and each other during different transactions, including sharing videos and interactive learning for key roles.

Recommendations: R4

Chief Officer HR

 

Work has progressed with a learning platform for officers, face to face training for other officers, this will roll out wider across the council too.  Staff who are also facing trauma (personally) have access to resources from EAP (from March 2024).

CMT and Executive Members Trauma Informed training 4th February 2025

April 2025 and

ongoing

4.    Introduce an annual process with senior managers to share and support each other’s Service Plan development with opportunity to contribute to each other’s delivery of ambitions.

Recommendations: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

COO

Director of Finance

Chief Strategy Officer  

Revised service plan template and guidance for CMT members to complete.  Agreed that service plans will be updated twice per year and aligned to the Council Plan.  Interdependencies and links to strategic reviews also highlighted.

November 2024

1.    Share the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) with residents, members, partners and officers, being clear on the savings target for the next three years.

Recommendations: R6, R8, R9, R10

Director of Finance

Head of Comms

Chief Strategy Officer

Budget Consultation started in November following with Executive on key proposals.  Staff also part of the journey and kept informed.

Evidence: E39, E40

 

Nov 2024

2.    Provide great opportunity for senior managers to understand and engage in setting their annual budgets, through the budget setting process and ongoing.

Recommendations: R8, R9

Director of Finance

Engagement continues with staff via All staff briefings, Leading Together, Key Three documents and weekly briefing

June 2024

ongoing

3.    Design short financial literacy courses for Senior Managers to learn how to manage the financial management system, setting out the key dates for each year.

Recommendations: R8, R9

Director of Finance

Courses are currently being designed.   E-learning course currently under review.  Promoting e-learning training.  Procurement training ongoing to new managers. 

Oct 2024

and

ongoing

 

 

 


Objective 2 One City, one council: By September 2024, we will have co-designed both an internal and external approach to what it means to work together in partnership uniting the council, officers, members and partners together, as one team

Action

Detail

Accountable officer

Evidence Matrix and narrative

Deadline

1.    Co-design a culture Improvement Plan

1.    Celebrate success with operational and delivery teams highlighted for personal thanks from the Leader and Chief Operating Officer (COO) following achievements.

Recommendations: R1, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

COO

COO and Leader visited teams and is in progress.

Evidence: E10, E14, E15, E16

Ongoing

2.    Refresh internal governance arrangements, bringing greater visibility to how decisions are made and providing greater oversight to how the council operates internally.

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6

COO

Created and communicated

Evidence: E21

June 2024

3.    Following CLG review 2, co-design with senior managers cohort ways of working, confirming what good looks like when considering the six themes presented to Audit and Governance:

·        Build stronger relationships by understanding expectations

·        Define the culture you want to see

·        Communicate the change

·        Lead by example

·        Embed training and support

·        Align systems and processes

Monitoring Officer report: Agenda for Audit and Governance Committee on Wednesday, 19 July 2023, 5.30 pm (york.gov.uk) item 9

Recommendations:  R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6

Chief Officer HR

Chief Strategy Officer

Phase 2 ongoing.

 

March 2025

2.    Co-design a partnerships plan

1.    Following partner workshops and recent city leader’s events, develop a partnership plan that takes a one council approach to developing partnerships for approval at an Executive Decision Session (following further discussion with partners).

Recommendations: R12, R13

Chief Strategy Officer  

EDMS

Sept 2024

Annual schedule being arranged, proposal to establish a strategic place making board prepared for COO/Leader approval.

In progress

2.    Provide greater visibility of partnership working, with communications during or after events to show city partners coming together to discuss strategic issues, at both local and regional level.

Recommendations: R1, R12, R13

Head of Comms

Evidence: E25, E28, E29

Ongoing

3.    Co-design with partners the top 5 things to focus on to harness energy and commitment to the city, working with partners on plans to deliver change, including increasing public affairs activities.

Recommendations: R1, R12, R13

COO

Chief Strategy Officer  

 

October 2024

3.    Build capacity and capability to transform council services

1.    Establish the Corporate Improvement Board chaired by the Chief Operating Officer to monitor and steer corporate transformation, including the Working as One City programme, budget savings and delivery of the Council Plan.

Recommendations: R1, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10

Director of Finance

Ongoing, board created and active

Evidence: E22, E27

June 2024

2.    Explore the best way to develop change and project capabilities to lead transformation, working closely with directorates, taking a one council approach to deliver end benefits such as improved customer experience and a more efficient council.

Recommendations: R1, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10

Director of Finance

Strategic reviews defined and business cases establishing this is now ongoing

Evidence: E22

August 2024 and ongoing

3.    Develop a series of Strategic Reviews that will take a council wide approach (for example, improve customer experience, embed safe and effective social care practice, and launch integrated neighbourhood teams) that together form the Working as One City Programme, providing Executive oversight in September 2024 as part of the MTFS budget setting process.

Recommendations: R1, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10

Chief Strategy Officer

Strategic reviews defined and business cases establishing this is now ongoing

Evidence: E22, E27

Executive Sept 2024

 

Ongoing

4.    Identify action plans related to corporate improvement to bring to the Corporate Improvement Board for oversight and steer – including equalities action plan, budget savings plans, etc.

Recommendations: R1, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10

Chief Strategy Officer

Ongoing, board created and active

June 2024

4.    Deliver an Induction programme for the newly elected Mayor to best represent York’s interests

1.    Introduce the newly elected Mayor to key York leaders, including Executive, Corporate Management Team, city leaders and key officers, facilitating tours of key sites, eg. York Central

Recommendations:  R1, R12, R13

Chief strategy Officer

City Leaders event in May and ongoing work with the combined authority, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor

May 2024

2.    Present the Mayor with the York pipeline of proposals, for mayoral consideration, following cross-party scrutiny

Recommendations: R1, R12, R13

Chief Strategy Officer

MCA pipeline approved in July and MCA business cases being coordinated.   Work required to activate cases for Local Growth Plan.

Evidence: E20, E26

July 2024

 

3.    Centrally coordinate Combined Authority business cases that have regional impact for council plan action to maintain oversight of projects progressing with Mayoral support, working with York’s policy network to prepare business cases ready for further discussion.

Recommendations: R12, R13

Chief Strategy Officer

MCA pipeline approved in July and MCA business cases being coordinated.   Work required to activated cases for Local Growth Plan

July 2024

Ongoing

4.    Work with the Combined Authority to establish working groups between officers in York, North Yorkshire and the Combined Authority to explore opportunities in key themes!

Recommendations: R12, R13

Chief Strategy Officer

MCA pipeline approved in July and MCA business cases being coordinated.   Work required to activated cases for Local Growth Plan

Evidence: E26, E29

June 2024

ongoing

 


 

 

Objective 3 Harness the commitment to the city to deliver ambitions: Develop and implement a communication strategy, establishing different activities to strengthen partnerships and engage the workforce, with a plan prepared by September 2024;

Action

Detail

Accountable officer

Narrative and Evidence Matrix (where appropriate)

Deadline

1.    Develop and implement the Communications Strategy

1.    Define a clear corporate narrative through the Working as One City Programme

Recommendations: R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R10

Head of Comms

Director of Finance  

Work started, business cases commenced, working groups convened and communication with staff commenced

Head of Transformation appointment from 4th February 2025 to drive and take lead on transformation

Evidence: E24, E48

Ongoing

2.    Develop a new Communications Strategy that aligns to the Council Plan and Working as One City programme, setting out a clear corporate narrative and refreshing channels.

Recommendations: R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R10

Head of Comms

Work started, business cases commenced, working groups convened and communication with staff commenced

Dec 2024

3.    Develop an internal engagement plan that shows how different internal meetings and communications are integrated, with key strategic issues discussed and providing opportunity for staff to get involved and meet the Corporate Management Team (CMT).

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

Head of Comms

Internal comms completed and now ongoing

Evidence: E9, E11

June 2024

 

4.    Launch senior management weekly blogs to introduce senior management to officers and share their ambition for the organisation, celebrating success and sharing resident’s experiences.

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

Head of Comms

CMT blog schedule confirmed and rota established

Evidence: E9, E11

Sept 2024

5.    Share the clear narrative throughout all internal communications with three key messages from CMT every month.

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

Head of comms

Agreed and established

Evidence: E19

July 2024

6.    Refresh how we share information to better equip officers with the information they need and consider all workforce including those without access to council-provided ICT.

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

Chief Strategy Officer

Head of Comms

Ongoing, implemented new email platform, key three and ongoing all staff meetings

Evidence: E9, E11

April 2025

2.    Establish and facilitate the City leaders annual events programme

1.    Establish a partner plan to provide greater opportunity to build relationships.

Recommendations: R1, R11, R12

Chief Strategy Officer  

Partner plan produced.

Evidence: E29

September 2024

2.    Share with partners the annual partner event plan in advance, with invitations.

Recommendations: R1, R11, R12

Chief Strategy Officer 

Programme of events has been produced. 

Evidence: E28

October 2024

3.    Establish a City Developments Group that oversees and steers regeneration projects informed by partner task and finish / working groups and with opportunity for Scrutiny review.

Recommendations: R1, R10, R11

Director of City Development

City Development Board established, forward look agreed, meeting schedule underway.

Evidence: E28, E29, E30

October 2024

 

4.    Through the City Developments Group, reignite the York Narrative to embed the city values in built infrastructure and design.

Recommendations: R1, R10, R11

Director of City Development

Ongoing, embedded into York Central developer’s proposition, Acomb Front Street Masterplan underway, Castle Gateway Master Plan due at Executive, Inward Investment Plan being developed.

Evidence: E33

January 2025

3.    Explore and launch an e-ideas hub

1.    Launch the staff ideas hub to encourage staff to take part in corporate consultations, including the budget consultation and workforce improvements.

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

Head of Comms

In place and attracting responses, responses shared via a ‘you said we did’ basis

June 2024

2.    Every month, share ‘you said, we did’ information based on staff ideas.

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

Head of Comms

Responses provided in periodic weekly COO emails

July 2024


4.    Strengthen the role of Leading Together role

1.    Develop an induction and training guide for Senior Managers, including scheme of delegation, financial management, performance and managing high performing teams

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

Chief Officer HR

Induction document produced and in circulation

Evidence: E23, E38

Dec 2024

2.    Share the forward look and decisions made through internal governance arrangements every month with Senior Managers to keep them informed about how the council operates, and their role in delivering ambitions.

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

COO

Completed and sent on a monthly basis

Sept 2024

3.    Explore options for a management development programme for all Senior Managers to help embed expected ways of working and sharing learning.

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

Chief Officer HR

Programme to launch in new year, promoted to managers in October

Evidence: E12, E13, E23

Dec 2024

Started October

4.    As part of the Working as One City programme, develop small task and finish group for Heads of Service to work together on cross-council issues, eg. how to make it easier for Head of Service to manage their service through greater oversight of HR and Finance data.

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

Chief Strategy Officer 

Head of BI

These have started and lead by CMT members

Evidence: E22

Ongoing

5.    Reset the regular senior officer meetings to provide space to explore organisational strategic issues together, publishing the schedule well in advance

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7

Chief Officer HR

Established and ongoing

Evidence: E4

June 2024

 

 


 

 

Objective 4 Build a strong foundation: By December 2024, we will have embedded council plan priorities and the performance framework throughout the organisation, reviewing how we support personal development plans and service plans, with a refreshed internal governance structure

Action

Detail

Accountable officer

Narrative and Evidence Matrix (where appropriate

Deadline

1.    Confirm the Council plan priorities

1.    Publish a six-month snapshot of progress on the website and to city partners, with a report to Executive and internal comms

Recommendations: R1, R2, R4, R5, R11, R12

Chief Strategy Officer 

Snapshot report presented to Executive in September 2024. 

Evidence: E23

 

In place ongoing

2.    Confirm priority council plan actions with Executive, recommending different delivery models when the council is not funded to support

Recommendations: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5,

COO/CMT

Meeting with Executive in February

January 2025

3.    Work closely with CMT, senior managers and Executive, develop a roadmap of council plan action, showing which service is accountable for delivering which action (informed by Service Plans)

Recommendations: R4, R5, R6, R7

Chief Strategy Officer 

Council Plan and Service Plan process in place.

Evidence: E23, E35

January 2025

2.    Review performance management

1.    Establish a Core Service Performance Board, chaired by the Chief Operating Officer, to provide oversight and monitor performance, scrutinising poor performing services and exploring how to support improvements

Recommendations: R6

COO

Core Service performance Board established.

 

 

Evidence: E35, E36, E41

July 2024

2.    Scrutinise Service Plans bi-annually in the Core Service Performance Board, taking a ‘one council’ approach to consider how ambitions are effectively and efficiently delivered and customer experience improved.

Recommendations: R6                                                                       

COO

Process in place.

October 2024

3.    Identify the 4-5 key performance indicators for each Senior Manager to be responsible for delivering through their teams

Recommendations: R6

CMT

Part of service planning

 

Evidence: E36

December 2024

4.    Reinforcing the link of service plans and performance management to ensure all officers are aware of how they contribute to ambition, setting SMART objectives based on Service Plans and EACH (Equalities, Affordability, Climate and Health) and holding regular performance discussions with staff, which may be followed up in a further review for the 2025/26 reporting year. Reinforcing the importance of regular 121 discussions for all staff to ensure the understanding of expectation, performance and opportunity to celebrate.

Recommendation: R6

Chief Officer HR

Initial review of PDR process completed.  Further review planned in February 2025

Higher completion rate in 2024, than 2023 already

Evidence: E8, E21

January / February 2025


3.    Review Internal governance structures

1.    Establish how internal governance arrangements create clear lines of accountability for CMT, introducing new arrangements for any gaps in corporate oversight and leadership.

Recommendations: R4, R5, R6

Chief Strategy Officer 

Complete, launched and ongoing

April 2024

2.    Establish a Corporate Governance Board, chaired by the Director of Governance and Director of Finance, to review decision reports and governance arrangements, escalating issues to Corporate Management Team and prior to publication.

Recommendation: R7

COO

Complete, launched and ongoing.

June 2024

3.    Establish new internal governance arrangements to provide structures to support strategic and priorities and organisational management discussions.

Recommendation: R4, R5, R7

COO

Complete, launched and ongoing

June 2024

4.    Launch new internal governance arrangements making it easier for Senior Managers to know who to engage with and when, publishing terms of reference and forward plans for each meeting

Recommendations: R2, R3, R4

COO

Complete and ongoing

June 2024

4.    Review Scrutiny oversight and member induction programme

1.    Continue the development of the ongoing member induction programme informed by member feedback.

Recommendation: R11

Head of Democratic Services

Oversight by Audit and by the Audit and Governance Committee of the Member Induction Programme.   A small project team with Democratic Services is looking at strengthening the Member Training and Induction Programme.

Ongoing

2.    Update the Member’s Portal to signpost access to information and member support.

Recommendation: R11

Head of Democratic Services

The Project Team will look at expanding and enhancing the portal so that it becomes the first point of contact for members looking for support.

March 2025

3.    Work with Chairs of Scrutiny to agree a process for reviewing scrutiny practices and identifying annual workplans

Recommendation: R11

Head of Democratic Services

The Centre for Governance Scrutiny has conducted a Scrutiny Impact Review of the Council and their recommendations are been reviewed and actions plans developed.

April 2025

4.    Review scrutiny officer’s role considering how they can support a continuous review of Scrutiny

Recommendation: R11

Head of Democratic Services

The Centre for Governance Scrutiny review will consider the issue of dedicated scrutiny support. 

April 2025

5.    Continue to work with a cross-party representative group to review the Constitution.

Recommendation: R11

Director of Governance

The review of the Constitution, through the cross-party Constitution Working Group, then through the Audit & Governance Committee and Full Council, is an ongoing process, as the Constitution is a living document. The first jointly agreed recommendations will be presented to Council on 21st November 2024.

Ongoing

6.    Review the role and responsibilities of independent members and how they can best support constructive scrutiny

Recommendation: R11

Director of Governance

This will be considered within the wider Centre for Governance scrutiny impact review.

April 2025