Agenda item

To consider a recommendation from Cabinet.

The Leader of Council presented and proposed the recommendation to adopt the Council Plan 2024-29. This was seconded by S Robinson. The Council Plan was the key strategic business plan for the council and set out the council’s vision, values and strategic priorities for the current council term and beyond.

 

Some concerns were raised about the focus of issues included in the Council Plan and how the comments of residents were being addressed through the document and as an amendment, it was proposed by S Gibson seconded by L Beddow that a 5^th strategic priority be added to the Council Plan as follows:

 

Providing high quality universal services

 

Dorset Council has a proud record of getting the basics right. Our approach to road maintenance and pothole management is proactive and has ensured that Dorset has some of the best maintained rural roads. Dorset Council also has an excellent track record on waste & recycling. Residents tell us that road maintenance and waste collection are the top priority areas within the services delivered by Dorset Council.

 

Targets

·       Maintain the Councils position as the top performing Unitary Authority for recycling rates

·       To maintain and improve our residents' satisfaction with our waste and recycling services which is currently 87.5%

·       To continue our positive trajectory and improve on the 60% of our waste already recycled 

·       Continue to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfill – currently 2%

·       Consistently achieve a pothole repair target of 90%

·       Ensure that the target of Principal roads requiring urgent attention is met – currently 2%

·       Maintain Dorset Councils position in the top 10 and top quartile of peer reviewed highway authorities under our Value for Money assessment.

Key Actions to deliver this priority

 

·       Deliver the new HRC facility in Blandford

·       Develop plans for a new HRC facility in the East of the County

·       Continue to support cross border HRC arrangements including Somerley

·       Deliver ‘Hedge to Hedge’ to better coordinate the work of the Highways Team, the Greenspace Team and the Waste Team to ensure roads are well maintained.

·       Invest in proactive maintenance units and our Community Highways Team

·       Deliver a new Local Transport Plan (LTP4)

·       Making roads safer by working with communities and Town & Parish Councils to roll out 20mph where there is strong community consent

Leadership and Partnership

 

·       We will work proactively with the Western Gateway STB to deliver the much needed M4 to the South Coast route to provide a better route for HGV traffic and reduce pressure on other local roads

·       We will continue to work in partnership with Dorset Police and other key stakeholders to improve road safety via the Road Safety Partnership

·       Work with Government and Industry to deliver better recycling rates and more sustainable waste management

·       Support Town & Parish Councils and community led groups to improve our recycling rates.

Stand up for Dorset

 

·       Lobby Government for improved highway funding. Much of Dorset Councils highway budget comes from the Department for Transport. However Dorset receives lower funding than many local Councils in rural areas.

·       Lobby Government to reduce reliance on the use of incinerators and to support the Council in opposition to new incinerators in Dorset Council areas.

 

Councillors spoke both in favour and against the amendment. Those speaking against the amendment noted that the Council Plan was a strategic document, with many of the issues raised being covered by other plans that sat underneath the Council Plan. There was recognition that not everything could be included within the Council Plan. Those speaking in favour of the amendment noted that the issues raised in the amendment should be embedded in the Council Plan as they reflected the issues raised by residents. It was felt that delivering high quality services should be included in the vision for the council.

 

Upon being put to the vote the Amendment was LOST.

 

Councillors considered the Council Plan and comments were made both in support of and against the plan. Particular comments were made around provision of housing including affordable housing, actions around climate change, road safety issues and how the plan had been put together.

 

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED.

 

Decision

 

That the Council Plan 2024-29 be adopted.

 

Reason for the decision

 

Incorporation of some of the recommendations of Joint Overview Committee ensures cross-party input into the Council Plan. The Council Plan sets out what the council aims to deliver between 2024-29. It informs the resources required for delivery, the outputs and outcomes that are anticipated and other contributory factors (such as actions by partner organisations, risks, resource assumptions etc). The Council Plan sets out the headline target measures by which performance will be monitored and reported on.