Agenda item

Cllr Alan White presented the draft Strategic Plan 2022 – 26 which details the Council’s ambitions and priorities for the years ahead. It outlines what the Council wants to achieve and how it intends to do so. The Plan is the Council’s primary strategic document that shapes its financial and delivery plans.

The Strategic Plan identifies five priorities:

·       Support Staffordshire’s economy to grow, generating more and better-paid jobs.

·       Fix more roads, and improve transport and digital connections.

·       Encourage good health and wellbeing, resilience and independence.

·       Tackle climate change, enhance our environment, and make Staffordshire more sustainable.

·       Offer every Staffordshire child and young person the best start in life, and the chance to achieve their potential.

The Council were informed that the last four years had brought many challenges and opportunities for local public services, not least the global pandemic. Throughout, the Council has remained ambitious for Staffordshire, and focused on delivery including:

·       The Successful completion of a large-scale Children’s System Transformation programme.

·       The Building Resilient Families and Communities Programme which has achieved successful outcomes for 1,203 families, exceeding its annual target of 784, and helping over 9,000 families since 2015.

·       The launch of the virtual Family Hubs during Covid-19, which have been held up nationally as an example of good practice.

·       The Council being recognised nationally for its response to Covid-19.

·       The Staffordshire Warmer Homes, in partnership with District and Borough Councils, which aimed to better insulate and heat homes to reduce fuel poverty and support our efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

·       Staffordshire has built two Dementia Centres of Excellence in Stafford and Burton, leading the way in delivering care that is person-centred and promotes independence.

·       The Staffordshire Means Back to Business Support Scheme, a £6m partnership with Staffordshire’s District and Borough Councils, providing critical support for small businesses and people whose jobs and employment prospects have been impacted by Covid-19.

·       Since 2014, Staffordshire’s Economic Growth Programme has created or safeguarded more than 10,000 jobs and enabled construction of more than 4,000 new homes.

·       The delivery of a number of key infrastructure projects including the Lichfield Southern Bypass, Stafford Western Access Route and the 60-acre first phase of the i54 Western extension.

·       The Council has achieved a 25% reduction in its carbon emissions in the first year since declaring a climate change emergency.

Cllr Sutherland, Cllr Tagg, Cllr Sutton, Cllr Greatorex and Cllr Winnington expressed their support for the Plan and commended what had been delivered to date.

In response to a question from Cllr Pardesi in relation to Community Managed Libraries, Cllr Wilson confirmed that the libraries had access to a professional Librarian and also cleaning staff.  Cllr Pardesi also indicated that the voluntary sector was meant to complement statutory services, not to replace them. In response, Cllr Wilson indicated the Council’s intention was to allow local communities to do more for themselves, enhancing what was provided by the County Council.  Cllr Greatorex also commented on the vital role played by the voluntary sector during the Covid pandemic.

Cllr Winnington and Cllr Philip Atkins spoke about the Government’s levelling-up agenda and how access to broadband/5G, particularly in rural areas, would play an important part in this.

Cllr Hood referred to the lack of mention of mental health in the Strategic Plan and the need to look strategically at the provision of mental health services.  She also indicated that the act of volunteering often had a positive effect on that individual’s mental health.

Cllr Alan White thanked Members for their comments and, in response to Cllr Hood’s point about mental health, he highlighted the important role played by the Family Hubs.  Cllr Philip White added that people who were independent and in control of their lives were more likely to enjoy better health and wellbeing. The Council therefore needed to continue to empower and inspire our communities and people to help themselves and each other and also to grow the local economy to create more and better paid jobs.

RESOLVED – That the Strategic Plan 2022-26 (as set out in Appendix 1 to the report) be adopted.