Agenda item

(a)       That the committee supports the structure, format and content of the “public” version of the Council (Improvement) Plan for 2017-23; and

(b)       That the committee supports the targets and milestones in the Measure and Milestones document (appendix 2) to the Council (Improvement) Plan 2017-23 with the following observations to the Cabinet for their consideration:

·         Priority: Green Council

Section 3: Maximising the potential of Council assets for energy efficiency: Control/reduction of Council energy consumption and thereby cost. Addition to content.

·         Priority: Serving Council

Section 5: Digital Strategy and Customer Strategies: Improved digital infrastructure access for homes and business across the County. Add a national issue on infrastructure development, Government investment, and the performance of suppliers.  Addition to content.

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) introduced the Council Plan 2017-23 report which had been reviewed and refreshed to reflect the key priorities of the Council for the five year term of the new administration.

            The structure of the plan remained the same as previous plans and now comprised six priorities and relevant sub priorities.  The six priorities took a long term view of projects and ambitions over the next five years.

            He commented on the priority ‘Connected Council’ and the links to Community Asset Transfers (CATs) and Alternative Delivery Models (ADMs).  This was the opportunity for the Organisational Change Overview and Scrutiny Committee to provide any feedback on specific areas to Cabinet for consideration prior to submission to County Council.

            Councillor Shotton said the impact of welfare reform was a concern to him and access to digital services.  Universal Credit was an on line system so he welcomed the measure on ‘Supportive Council: Protecting people from poverty’ of Delivering Personal Budgeting and Digital Support Services’ which related to the local impact of the full service Universal Credit roll out.

            On ‘Supportive Council: Integrated Community Social & Health Services’, Councillor Jones felt the words ‘at home’ should be removed from Impact 1) Enabling more people to live independently and well at home, citing examples of where people did live independently and well, however not necessarily at home, but in places like Llys Jasmine.  The Chief Executive explained that the words ‘at home’ were not literal and it was recognised that where people chose to live was a personal choice.

            In response to a question from Councillor Jones, the Cabinet Member for Education explained that, in relation to Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), it was important that existing schools remained viable and aimed to improve, alongside the aim to increase the number of facilities where Welsh was delivered.

            On ‘Green Council: Sustainable Development & Environmental Management’, Section 3: Maximising the potential of Council assets for energy efficiency, Councillor Jones said there was no reference as to where energy consumption would be reduced.  The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) explained the process for managing systems on the campus, some of which were operated remotely and it was important that employees were aware of the ‘no cost / low cost’ message.  It was agreed that the words ‘Control/reduction of Council energy consumption and thereby cost’ would be recommended to Cabinet for consideration.

            On ‘Serving Council: Improving Resource Management, Section 5: Digital Strategy and Customer Strategies, Councillor Jones commented on the ongoing problems that the villages within his ward had on trying to access the internet.  There were a number of businesses that operated in those areas and relied on internet access which was not yet accessible.  The Chief Executive said similar views had been expressed at a recent meeting of Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee and that the Council should be more influential over the infrastructure and network providers.

            Councillor Gay concurred with the views of Councillor Jones and commented on the services being inconsistent in Saltney due to the closeness of the border.  She felt in the least all public areas should have access to the internet. 

            It was agreed that the words ‘Improved digital infrastructure access for homes and businesses across the County’ would be recommended to Cabinet for consideration.

            Councillor Dunbar welcomed the report and the priorities and sub-priorities.  On ‘Supportive Council: Appropriate and Affordable Homes’, he asked if there had been any progress on delivering options for new, innovative low rent housing schemes for under 35’s.  The Chief Executive responded to say that creative solutions were currently being looked into.

            In response to a question from Councillor Dunbar, the Chief Executive explained that options were still being pursued on how energy from the Council’s own solar panels could be re-routed to Alltami for use by electric vehicles.

            On ‘Ambitious Council: Business Sector Growth and Regeneration’, Councillor Dunbar commented on the importance of this priority to secure infrastructure investment needed for both regional and local growth.

            Councillor Gay expressed concerns on the School Modernisation Plan and asked for reassurance that St. David’s High School in Saltney was included in that plan.  The Chief Executive explained that St. David’s High School was the first priority in Band B for funding.

            Councillor Mullin thanked the Committee Members for their input on the Council Plan with the two inclusions that would be considered by Cabinet the following day prior to County Council.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the committee supports the structure, format and content of the “public” version of the Council (Improvement) Plan for 2017-23; and

(b)       That the committee supports the targets and milestones in the Measure and Milestones document (appendix 2) to the Council (Improvement) Plan 2017-23 with the following observations to the Cabinet for their consideration:

·         Priority: Green Council

Section 3: Maximising the potential of Council assets for energy efficiency: Control/reduction of Council energy consumption and thereby cost. Addition to content.

·         Priority: Serving Council

Section 5: Digital Strategy and Customer Strategies: Improved digital infrastructure access for homes and business across the County. Add a national issue on infrastructure development, Government investment, and the performance of suppliers.  Addition to content.