Agenda item

To receive an update from the Chief Executive on the progress being made in implementing the Corporate Plan 2023-27 against the Action Plan 2023-24 and Action Plan 2024-25 – to end of Quarter 1 – 30 June 2024.

Suggested time 15 minutes.

Councillor Adams, Leader of the Council, updated the Committee on changes between the 2023/4 Action Plan and the Quarter 1 2024/25 Action Plan. Councillor Adams was satisfied with the progress on the 2023/24 Plan.

Councillor Cushing commented that it would be useful to have delivery date targets for each action to assess the progress on each item. The report said that 10 actions in the 2023-24 Action Plan had been completed with 18 carried forward but this was difficult to judge without delivery dates.

Councillor Cushing added that he would expect to see more of a mix of Red, Amber and Green actions in the plan and there was lot of green in this plan which might raise questions about how the RAG status is being assessed.

Councillor Adams advised that it was planned to meet and review the assessments, and it was the target to complete actions within the year. He would take away the comments about the delivery dates.

Councillor Penfold asked what methodology was being used to make the assessments and whether it was a common one or was it down to the individual lead officers.

Councillor Adams stated that Cabinet did challenge the RAG assessments. Green was on target or delivered, Amber was not on target but intention to deliver a different way or slightly delayed with Red not on target. White indicated work hasn’t started. The commentary was as important as the RAG status.

Councillor Penfold referred to the action produce and publish a Rural Strategy and Action Plan by June 2024 which had a commentary of Initial scoping discussions held yet was marked as Green and should be an Amber.

Councillor Adams advised that there would be a focussed look at the RAG assessments including that one which would be report back to the committee.           

Councillor Holliday asked about how actions were carried forward on achieving external funding and the take up of benefits and how they were assessed when circumstances changed from one year to the next.

Councillor Adams confirmed that there had been £1.2m received of additional benefit payments for residents which was a huge level of achievement but the changes to Winter Fuel Payment would change that focus but it was right that they remain a priority albeit with a bit more of a focussed approach.

The CEX advised that the Corporate Plan was aspirational and sought to match the manifesto commitments of the administration with the resources that were available to the council and was not a performance report. Officers had advised that an annual action plan would enable accountability about when things might happen. He added that the Council was a very small organisation facing an increased demand for its services.

Councillor Heinrich asked what were the success criteria for the actions and it would be useful to have a couple of bullet points at the end of an action to illustrate how successful it has been.

Councillor Housden queried what the protracted discussions with stakeholders were in relation to the provision of a banking hub.

The CEX advised that the Council had contacted the LINK group about creating a bank hub in Holt and Stalham initially but were only facilitating this rather than directly providing it. Cash Access were seeking a property for a hub and may use the Town Council for a model that would be different to the national one. In Fakenham and North Walsham, the Council was looking at ways to speed up the process.

Councillor Housden asked whether it had a place in the report as some of it was out of the council’s hands and was down to external organisations. Councillor Adams stated that it should be as the council was a key partner in assuring it happened and there may be some tangible actions for the council in the upcoming months.

Councillors Cushing asked about the RAG assessment of the Fakenham Leisure and Sports Hub proposal as it was a key priority. Councillor Adams commented that the Council was awaiting the Government’s decision on the funding for this scheme.

Recommended that - more detailed information be provided within the action plan that would include delivery dates where possible and success criteria to give a greater understanding of the progress being made against each of the RAG targets