Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk

The Sub-Committee received a Report of the Town Clerk concerning Corporate Performance and Business Planning.

The Town Clerk opened the discussion by explaining that having explored lots of options and their comparative benefits and logistical challenges, the mechanism officers homed in on was holding four sessions between November and January to cover related ‘clusters’ of Business Plans: City, Corporate, Services and Culture. It was felt that this would give maximum opportunity for Members to look across and challenge the plans without being inundated.

The Chairman responded that Members wanted to ensure that officers focused on prioritisation; these papers are amongst the most important that Members will see throughout the year, as it provides a bridge between strategy and prioritisation. Officers had to recognise that resources were finite so prioritisation (and offering Members choices) was critical.

Members raised concerns that too big an attendance at the four proposed sessions would dilute overall effectiveness; smaller groups, in contrast, were likely to deliver greater focus – e.g. Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen and a small group of nominees.

In response to concerns, officers reassured Members that when departmental officers were working on business plans, and negotiating budgets with the Chamberlain’s team, internal integrity was robust, with access to the excel workbooks strictly limited to a small group.

The Chairman summed up by suggesting that the proposal needed more thought, and ultimately would require a political steer from the Town Clerk himself, to ensure officers and Members were giving this initiative the consideration it deserves.

RESOLVED – that Members noted the Report.