Agenda item

Corporate Plan 2019-20

Minutes:

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee considered the updated 2019/20 Corporate Plan.

 

It was explained that the current Corporate Plan runs out at the end of 2018/19 and that an updated 2018/19 Corporate Plan was required to provide clear direction for the work of the Council for the next year. The new Plan brings together in one document agreed priorities that were already shaping how the Council work and summarises:

 

·         The Council’s contribution over the next year to the Doncaster Growing Together (DGT).

 

·         How the Council will ensure it has the capacity to deliver DGT transformational priorities and quality services day in, day out.

 

It was explained that the Corporate Plan was framed around the 4 DGT priority themes (Working, Learning, Living and Caring) and the crosscutting ‘Connected Council’ theme.

 

A brief outline was provided about new additions and changes to the plan.  Members provided their support to the plan and provided the following comments.

 

The Committee stressed the importance of highlighting and promoting the notable successes in the document, achieved from pathways created as a result of the Corporate Plan.  Members were reminded about the purpose of the Annual Report and the efforts being made to communicate those achievements.

The following was raised around the Doncaster Learning theme - How we want to make life better for residents - Pupil attendance and behaviour of disadvantaged young people is improved.

Concern was raised around the progress being made within this area and reference to the term ‘disadvantaged young people’ as part of the above statement.  The Committee was informed that the Council undertook a corporate responsibility for the Looked After Children indicator around the attendance of Children in Need (that included all categories of Children in Need). 

 

Members were informed that although performance in this area had improved, Doncaster currently performed less well in comparison to its statistical neighbours.  Members were reminded about the positive and targeted work being undertaken to monitor, challenge and address this issue.  The Committee acknowledged these positive actions and how those schools were developing and improving as a result.

 

There was a brief discussion around the issue around attendance and inclusion and what was being undertaken to address them.  It was recognised that the Councils limited resources and best endeavours needed to be applied in the right way and that positive outcomes were starting to be seen.

 

The Committee stressed the importance of reaching the objectives in the Corporate Plan in partnership with the voluntary sector and questioned the support available to enable them to have a voice.  Members were informed that this featured within the Five Imperatives (1. Harnessing community strengths, collaboration and assets, particularly to enable more improvements in well-being to be delivered by communities) and that it was set out early in the Plan, as it was considered as a key issue that cross-cut across all areas.

 

Reference was made to the Health Implications as outlined in the Corporate Plan covering report and the importance of how interventions and preventative measures allows local authorities to play its part in creating health and addressing unequal patterns of illness. 

 

Finally, it was commented that the Glossary was a useful addition to the plan.

 

Reference was made to the reporting and monitoring of armed forces progress.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee supported the Plan and the Chair undertakes to provide a formal written response.

 

Supporting documents: