Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services.

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services concerning the five-year high-level business plan for the Community & Children’s Services Department.

Officers provided an overview, explaining that the DCCS five-year business plan represented a new approach, moving away from the traditional one-year format. The plan outlines revised strategic objectives and high-level priority workstreams, which will be reviewed annually due to the constraints of an annual budget.

A Member raised two points: an apparent omission of Barbican Estate residents from the housing figures, and the issue of underutilised car parking at the Barbican. They suggested that car parking should be addressed through a city-wide strategy rather than in isolation. Officers acknowledged the oversight regarding Barbican residents and confirmed that the department is engaging with the wider corporation on the broader car parking strategy.

Another Member praised the comprehensive nature of the business plan but noted the absence of any reference to modelling. In response, Officers explained that financial modelling includes five- and ten-year plans for the Housing Revenue Account, extended to 30 years, and that assumptions are made cautiously due to the unpredictability of government grants. Risk factors considered include demand management and the level of government support, all of which are incorporated into the City Corporation’s medium-term financial plan.

A Member raised a concern about the performance metrics for affordable housing, suggesting that in addition to completed homes, the plan should also track projects that have begun. This would better reflect progress over the longer timeframes typical of housing developments. Another member suggested adopting a rolling five-year planning model, where each year the plan is updated to maintain a consistent five-year outlook, either within DCCS or across the corporation.

RESOLVED – That Members,

a)     Note the factors taken into consideration in compiling the Community and Children’s Services Department Business Plan; and

b)     Approve, subject to the incorporation of any changes sought by this Committee, the departmental Business Plan 2025/26 – 2029/30.