In accordance with Council minutes 77 and 78 (12 December, 2011), the Committee is requested to consider those parts of the Corporate Plan within its remit.

In accordance with Council minutes 77 and 78 (12 December, 2011), the Committee considered those parts of the Corporate Plan within its remit. The Committee had also had sight of a motion which had been referred to all Overview and Scrutiny Committees by the Council at its meeting on 12 December, 2011 (minute 76 refers) and which was considered in connection with the Corporate Plan.

The Draft Corporate Plan and report of the Chief Executive which had been considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 8 December were considered by the Committee and the Chair sought the views of Members. He commented also that the Council Excellence O&S Committee had a coordinating role in relation to the overall production of the Corporate Plan and he had requested that the views of the other themed O&S Committees were presented for Members’ consideration. The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management submitted the following minutes –

·  Minute 39 – Economy and Regeneration O&S (16 January 2012)

·  Minute 44 – Health and Well Being O&S (19 January 2012)

·  Minute 49 – Children and Young People O&S (26 January 2012)

·  Minute 62 – Sustainable Communities O&S (30 January 2012)

The Chair referred to an email he had circulated to Members of the Committee, which contained extracts of the Audit Commission’s Corporate Assessments of Wirral from December 2002 and from December 2005, both of which contained comments in relation to the development of the Corporate Plan.

Members expressed a diverse range of views in relation to the Corporate Plan, including –

·  That although it is a very important document, it should be more concise.

·  That if it does not contain clear and quantifiable targets, it will do nothing to improve performance.

·  That the Plan is aspirational and lacks clear targets.

·  That the Plan contains no reference to the Strategic Change Programme.

Members commented also –

·  That the Corporate Plan is all-encompassing and detailed enough for members of the public to engage with and that there is clear indication of where to access specific more detailed information.

·  The Plan should not contain specific targets or high levels of detail, but should give an indication as to the general direction of the Council.

·  That, being a 3 Year Plan, it should contain goals for the life of the Plan, rather than targets. Future reports from officers will then include specific targets for the achievement of the goals set out in the Plan.

·  That the need for change is clearly set out in the introduction to the Plan

On a motion by Councillor Gilchrist and seconded by Councillor Brighouse, it was –

Resolved –

(1)  That the comments of the Committee be referred to the Cabinet.

(2)  That the Council Excellence O&S Committee welcomes the principal of the Corporate Plan as a Statement of the Council’s Priorities.

(3)  That Committee looks forward to the Plan being produced in a more accessible format.

(4)  That Committee looks forward to targets being provided, in order for the Plan to become a more meaningful document and to allow progress to be measured.

(5)  That the Committee welcomes the comments contained within the Corporate Plan in relation to poverty.