Agenda item

(Deputy Chief Executive) To consider the attached report.

The Deputy Chief Executive, Derek Macnab introduced the  report on the corporate Key Strategic planning document, setting out its priorities over the four year period from 2011/12 to 2014/15, with strategic themes reflecting those of the Community Strategy for the district.

A range of key objectives for 2013/14 was adopted by the Cabinet in March 2013. Progress in relation to deliverables and actions designed to support the achievement of the key objectives is reviewed by the Cabinet and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on a quarterly and outturn basis.

This report presented the nine-month (1 April to 31 December 2013) progress against the key objectives for 2013/14. The key objectives for 2013/14 were adopted by the Cabinet at its meeting on 11 March 2013.

At the end of the third quarter of the year, 40 (74%) of the individual deliverables or actions supporting the key objectives had either been completed or achieved, or were anticipated to be completed/achieved by a revised target date or at year-end. Some 8 (15%) deliverables or actions may not be completed or achieved by year-end and a further 6 (11%) were currently on-hold as a result of external circumstances.

The Committee then went through key objectives as set out in the report.

The development of a social networking strategy and increased use of social media – Councillor Angold-Stephens noted that there were ongoing financial issues for quarter 3. He was told that the Council’s social media had been monitored over Christmas and responses made when necessary, it was important to monitor the social media so as to make sure that the correct information had been given to the public and that any rumours or disinformation be corrected especially during out of hours periods. This would involve the payment of the officers who monitored the social media strands over evenings and weekends. A report on this had been made to the Management Board.

Development of the Council’s Leisure Strategy – Councillor Knapman wanted to know the reason why we were behind schedule on this. He was told that they were late to start with and the Portfolio Holder Advisory Group were seeking finance through the budget process to take forward the necessary building condition survey.

Compliance with duty to co-operate – Councillor Angold-Stephens noted that Harlow had not been so helpful in this duty. Councillor Whitbread commented that they had met with Harlow recently  on a couple of occasions and they were becoming more co-operative.

Setting of a consistently low district council tax – Councillor Angold-Stephens asked if we were on course to achieve this aspiration. It was noted that this had referred to 2013/14 year and was also an aspiration for the future, but it had to go through the budget process each year.

Deliver Regeneration Action Plan for council land at The Broadway, Loughton – Councillor Wixley asked if there were any developments on the Church site in Mannock Drive to be developed for affordable housing. Councillor Angold-Stephens  noted that this had now ceased as they were not looking for an additional church.  Councillor Stallan noted that there had been proposals for the Broadway area that were not successful. Councillor Murray commented on the regeneration of the Broadway opposite the Winston Churchill site and asked what had happened to the affordable housing idea on this site. Councillor Stallan  said that the figures did not stack up for the provision of social housing.

RESOLVED:

That the nine month progress to the Council’s Key Objectives for 2013/14 be noted.