Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council presenting the draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028.

47.1    The Leader of the Council, Councillor Hilton, introduced the draft Corporate Plan 2025-28, and stated that it set out the proposed strategic direction of the council over the next 4 years. He confirmed that it had been developed in consultation with Officers to include existing workstreams and new aspects of policy.

47.2    Councillor Hilton outlined the key objectives of the plan, namely to strengthen civic pride in Gloucester, provide more affordable homes, deliver a zero-carbon council by 2023 and to improve the biodiversity of local parks and public spaces. Further objectives included the encouragement of new development and regeneration in the city, transforming council services, and ultimately to make the city of Gloucester an exciting and attractive place to live.

47.3    Councillor Hilton highlighted that the new Corporate Plan would provide a more intensive workload for council staff, with 25% more actions proposed than that of the previous Council Plan. He noted that the plan was currently in the process of a 6-week public consultation, and was before the Committee as part of that consultation. Councillor Hilton further advised Members that the final Corporate Plan would return to Cabinet on 15^th January 2025, and would be put to full Council for approval on 30^th January 2025.

47.4    The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Wilson, added that this was a high-level strategic plan and expressed that it was ambitious in some areas, particularly around increasing commercial income and affordable housing targets. 

47.5    Councillor Pullen asked for clarification as to how much of the plan had been driven by the administration, and how they had achieved a balance with input from Officers. Councillor Hilton explained that an away day had been held between Cabinet and Officers during the early development of the Draft Corporate Plan, however the document had been largely driven by the policy agenda outlined in the new administration’s manifesto. Councillor Hilton further noted that the Draft Corporate Plan sought to see through and deliver some of the ongoing projects from the current Council Plan, such as the Forum development.

47.6    In response to a query from Councillor Castle regarding whether the Cabinet had identified any lessons which could be learnt from the current Council Plan, Councillor Hilton noted that it was clear that the council had suffered as a result of reduced budgets, however it was hoped that there would be more support for Local Government from Central Government. He further noted that the Draft Corporate Plan did not include end dates unlike the current Council Plan. This was to take into account external events which could have an impact on delivery timescales, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and cyber attack of 2021.

47.7    Councillor Walker asked whether there were any specific actions included in the current Council Plan which had not been carried forward into the new Draft Corporate Plan. Councillor Hilton responded that there were no uncompleted actions in the current Council Plan which had not been carried forward. He noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council presenting the draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028 and seeking approval to commence the required consultation process.

RESOLVED that:

(1)       the draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028 is approved for public consultation;

(2)       the timetable for the development and finalisation of the Corporate Plan 2025-2028 is noted.

Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council that presented the draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028 and sought approval to commence the required consultation process.

The Leader of the Council summarised the report.  He commented that work streams and the administration’s manifesto had been combined to address the Council’s key objectives (3.3).  The Leader of the Council reminded Members that there would be a lot of work to do to deliver such an ambitious plan with more actions than the plan it is intended to replace.

The Cabinet Member for Resources thanked officers for producing such an easy-to-follow document (Appendix 1).  He informed Members that he looked forward to the proposed public consultation and hoped that all political parties would contribute to the plan through debate as he believed it would make a big difference to the City.

The Cabinet Member for Planning advised that she was pleased with the plan’s bold ambition and that it put regeneration at its heart.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure drew Members’ attention to the commitment to Gloucester’s vibrant culture (Appendix 1 No.3) and the exciting programme of events described there.  The Cabinet Member for Community Engagement commented on the importance of the proposed consultation in obtaining feedback, especially from young people.

RESOLVED that:

(1)       the draft Corporate Plan 2025-2028 is approved for public consultation;

(2)       the timetable for the development and finalisation of the Corporate Plan 2025-2028 is noted.