Agenda item

(a)       That subject to the comments, the Committee receives and notes the Council Plan 2023-28 Part 1 and Part 2 documents that outline the actions, measures and risks that underpin the Priorities, Sub-Priorities and Well-being objectives of the Council Plan 2023-28; and

(b)       That the comments made by the Committee be referred to respective Overview & Scrutiny committees and Cabinet for consideration.

The Chief Executive presented a report on the refreshed priorities, sub-priorities and well-being objectives within the Council Plan for 2023-28 which reflected a long-term view of recovery, projects and ambitions over the period.  Part 2 of the Council Plan was being considered by Overview & Scrutiny committees to ensure full coverage of Part 1 and its respective measures and targets, prior to adoption by County Council.

Under Learning Environments, Councillor Bill Crease highlighted the development of a school modernisation strategy within the Saltney area by March 2024.  He referred to previous plans for work at St. David’s High School which had not been progressed due to site issues and commented on the urgent need to develop further proposals to improve conditions at the school.

The Chief Executive noted the specific point regarding the condition of the roof and reminded the Committee that the school had the option to utilise its delegated budgets to undertake repairs before minor repairs became significant requiring LEA intervention.  On the specific matter of the school modernisation strategy and more specifically Saltney St. David’s, the Chief Executive agreed to refer the matter to the Education, Youth & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Under Green Society and Environment, Councillor Sam Swash asked why reference to forthcoming legislation on councils establishing their own municipal bus companies was not included in actions for the Active and Sustainable Travel Options sub-priority.

The Chief Executive reported that further information on the changes had not yet been received from Welsh Government.  He agreed that some reference could be included and would refer back to the Chief Officer.

The following points were raised by the Chair to be referred to the relevant Overview & Scrutiny committees and Cabinet:

·         To review the rationale for removing sub-priorities on Empty Properties, Renewable Energy and Spending Money for the Benefit of Flintshire.

·         Income Poverty - to consider the timeliness of actions, particularly bullet-point 7 on maximising benefit entitlement.

·         Child Poverty - to clarify how outcomes could be controlled and measured where external grant funding was involved.

·         Housing Support and Homeless Prevention - whether the amended wording to ensure homelessness “is rare, brief and non-recurring” could be viewed as lowering that target.

·         Net Zero Carbon Council - to consider whether wording on actions being “central to Covid-19 recovery” should apply to this five year Plan.

·         Climate Change Adaptation - query on how Flood Risk Management could be controlled and measured if this service was outsourced and also no mention of renewable energy projects.

·         Transport Connectivity - disagreed with the second bullet-point on supporting the establishment of Corporate Joint Committees.

·         Independent Living - clarity on how ensuring children had the best start in life could be measured.

·         Safeguarding - questioned the lengthy period to prepare for the implementation of the new Liberty Protect Safeguard procedures.

·         Educational Engagement and Achievement - to consider an earlier target date to develop options to support the rising number of pupils struggling to engage with education due to mental health issues.

·         People - to clarify whether implementing a compliant and sustainable new pay model by October 2023 meant that the current model is not compliant.

Part 2 of the Council Plan:

·         Poverty - Income Poverty and Fuel Poverty - some 2023/24 targets do not show improvement from the 2021/22 baseline data.

·         Affordable and Accessible Housing - Housing Support and Homeless Prevention and Social Housing - no improvement shown in targets for 2023/24.

·         Green Society and Environment - Phosphates Mitigation - to clarify how the Council could influence outcomes on the upgrade of Mold and Buckley wastewater treatment works given the involvement of an external organisation.

·         Economy - Business sub-priority - significant reduction in targets.

·         Personal and Community Well-being - Independent Living and Safeguarding - some 2023/24 targets do not show improvement from the 2021/22 baseline data.

·         Education and Skills - Educational Engagement & Achievement and Learning Environments - targets do not show improvement.

·         Education and Skills - Digital Learning Opportunities - no targets set for some achievement measures.

·         Education and Skills - Specialist Educational Provision - no achievement measures indicated.

·         Well Managed Council - People - reduced target for apprenticeships with positive outcomes.

·         Well Managed Council - Digital - target for the percentage of answered calls to the corporate Contact Centre should align to the wording in the achievement measure.

On the sub-priority for Local Development Plan (LDP) targets, Councillor Alasdair Ibbotson referred to the associated risk on slow progress with the Strategic Development Plan failing to set context for LDP 2.  He questioned why work on developing the second LDP was not reflected in this Council Plan, particularly given the significant work involved.

The Chief Executive noted that the LDP had only recently been adopted by the Council and that progress with LDP2 would need to consider the links with the Strategic Development Plan.  He agreed to refer this specific matter within the plan to the Chief Officer (Planning, Economy and Environment) for consideration.

Due to the number of comments made, the Chairman moved an amendment to the recommendation and was seconded by Councillor Bill Crease.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That subject to the comments, the Committee receives and notes the Council Plan 2023-28 Part 1 and Part 2 documents that outline the actions, measures and risks that underpin the Priorities, Sub-Priorities and Well-being objectives of the Council Plan 2023-28; and

(b)       That the comments made by the Committee be referred to respective Overview & Scrutiny committees and Cabinet for consideration.