This report sets out a new Council Plan which will run for the four-year electoral term from 2023 to 2027 following the local government elections earlier this year. The Council Plan is the primary document in the Council’s Policy framework. It has been developed to align with the Council’s refreshed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). In this regard, it supports the Council’s progress towards financial stability and continuous improvement in response to the External Assurance Review commissioned by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in November 2021 and Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge in April 2022.

The new Council Plan builds on and replaces the existing Wirral Plan 2021-26 which was approved by Council 6 September 2021 and refreshed on 11 July 2022. It also supersedes the Council’s Improvement Plan which was approved by Council 11 July 2022. The new Plan acts as a single plan for the organisation, articulating a vision and priorities for the next four years to deliver in line with the needs of residents whilst transforming and modernising the Council to maximise opportunities for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

The Head of Corporate Office presented the report which set out a new Council Plan for the four-year electoral term 2023 to 2027, following the local government elections in May 2023

The Council Plan is the primary document in the Council’s Policy framework and had been developed to align with the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

In this regard, it supported the Council’s progress towards financial stability and continuous improvement in response to the External Assurance Review commissioned by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in November 2021 and Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge in April 2022.

The new Council Plan built upon and replaced the existing Wirral Plan 2021-26 which was approved by Council 6 September 2021 and refreshed on 11 July 2022. It superseded the Council’s Improvement Plan as approved by Council 11 July 2022. The new plan acted as a single plan for the organisation, articulated a vision and priorities for the upcoming four years and delivered in line with the needs of residents. Members were informed that the new Council Plan transformed and modernised the Council to maximise opportunities for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Members queried the measurability of the framework for Community Wealth Building and were assured that all the measures contained within the Community Wealth Building Strategy would be brought forward as part of the Council Plan. Also discussed was the progress made in regards to the Council’s improvement plan which had been noted by the Independent Assurance Panel. Members wished it noted their thanks to officers and all Members for their hard work, engagement, and collaboration during the development of the Council Plan.

Resolved – that the new Council Plan be recommended to Council for approval at its next meeting on 4 December.