Issue - meetings

This report, presents for approval an updated draft of the Council’s 2006-2009 Corporate Strategy, including a summary version which has been developed to communicate the Strategy to a wider audience. 

RESOLVED: (i)         That the draft Corporate Strategy documents attached as Annex A and Annex B to the report be approved, subject to the Leader’s foreword being amended to include the words “per capita” after “income” in the second paragraph.

                        (ii)        That authority be delegated to the Council Leader and Chief Executive to approve any final editorial or presentational changes to the documents, with a view to producing the main Corporate Strategy by the end of June 2006 and the customer version as soon as possible after this date.

Members considered a report which presented for approval an updated draft of the Council’s 2006-2009 Corporate Strategy.  A summary version of the draft had also been developed, as requested by the Executive on 16 May, to communicate the Strategy to a wider audience.  The draft Strategy was attached as Annex A to the report and the summary as Annex B.

Development of a Corporate Strategy was an essential component of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) requirements.  The Strategy set out the Council’s direction and priorities over the medium term.  This meant that the annual Council Plan would in future perform the function of an “in-year” delivery plan for the priorities set out in the Strategy, rather than being a strategy document in itself.  Clear and effective signposting between both documents would therefore be essential.  Subject to some final editing and improvements to presentation, it was anticipated that the Strategy would be produced by the end of June and the summary version shortly thereafter.

Members confirmed that York Pride and Safe City remained the Council’s top priorities and noted that a number of improvements had been achieved in the past year with regard to customer satisfaction and residents’ perceptions of York as “safe”.  However, there were still improvements to be made with regard to speeding vehicles, neighbourhood conflict and communications with residents .

RESOLVED: (i)         That the draft Corporate Strategy documents attached as Annex A and Annex B to the report be approved, subject to the Leader’s foreword being amended to include the words “per capita” after “income” in the second paragraph.

                        (ii)        That authority be delegated to the Council Leader and Chief Executive to approve any final editorial or presentational changes to the documents, with a view to producing the main Corporate Strategy by the end of June 2006 and the customer version as soon as possible after this date.

REASONS:    In order to give clarity and focus to the medium term direction and priorities of the Council and to finalise the detailed content and presentation of the Corporate Strategy.