Agenda item

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

That the Corporate Strategy 2023/2024 be approved.

The Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson presented the report of the Chief Executive which sought approval for the refresh of the Corporate Strategy 2023/2024.

Over the past 12 months the council had continued to deliver improved outcomes for the borough and residents, communities and businesses.  This included opening a second extra care scheme at Tatton Gardens, a new community centre, GP surgery and café. 

Other achievements included the completion of Strawberry Meadows Business Park and the launch of a household energy support scheme.  Projects had also been undertaken towards climate change objectives and safe and healthy communities, including the launch of a health and wellbeing programme.  Additionally, family support to enable the best start in life, plus jobs skills to ensure meaningful employment.

For the Corporate Strategy 2023, the vision, priorities and long term-outcomes remained the same to ensure that the long-term impacts of strategic activity and investment were maintained.  The strategy continued to progress on action to address the economic impact of unprecedented inflation rates and high cost of living including support for businesses and activity to increase jobs and skills.

The strategy responded to the needs of communities, moving health and wellbeing initiatives into their next phase of delivery and doing more for neighbourhoods right across the borough.  Housing and homelessness prevention remained key themes for the strategy with specific council action to ensure that everyone was able to live in good quality, energy efficient and suitable homes.

The four priorities continue to be:

·                Housing where residents can live well

·                A green and sustainable borough

·                An enterprising economy with vibrant local centres in urban and rural areas

·                Healthy, safe and engaged communities

The performance measures had also been reviewed and updated.  Indicators

had been amended and targets updated to reflect performance over the past months as well as to better align to future priorities.

The key projects that would be delivered under each priority, to support the Council to meet its commitments were:

Housing where residents can live well

·                Refresh the Prevention of Homelessness Strategy

·                Develop and deliver a plan to improve housing standards across the borough

·                Deliver the Home Energy Support Scheme

·                Refresh the Housing Strategy

·                Deliver the Local Plan

A green and sustainable borough

·                Continue to deliver improvements to Chorley's bus shelter network

·                Increase the number of parks with a Green Flag Status

·                Deliver the Business Energy Support Scheme to boost businesses across the Borough

·                Deliver a Rural Business Support and Grant Scheme

·                Maintain and improve council buildings

·                Develop and deliver a plan to improve Chorley bus station

·                 

An enterprising economy with vibrant local centres in urban and rural areas

·                Develop a destination management plan for the borough

·                Deliver a Jobs and Skills Programme to upskill residents across the borough

·                Refresh of the Economic Development Strategy to promote growth across the borough

Healthy, safe and engaged communities

·                Launch an Enhanced Social Prescribing service focussed on supporting family and early years

·                Deliver the Cost of Living Action Plan

·                Deliver a Health and Wellbeing Programme to support the needs of residents across the borough

·                Delivery of a Borough anti-social behaviour action plan

·                Refresh and deliver the Transformation Programme

It had been announced the previous day that, following a bid submitted in June 2022, the council had been successful in securing £20m from the Government's Levelling Up fund for the regeneration of Chorley Town Centre.

Councillor Hasina Khan spoke in support of the proposal, particularly relating to the proposals relating to social prescribing and the work already undertaken at Tatton. 

It was noted that the target relating the number of affordable homes delivered would be changed from 111 annually to 75 to ensure this remained realistic.  Councillor Wilson agreed to keep this under review. 

Members discussed the delivery the Local Plan and noted the challenges surrounding this, although all partners wished to achieve the target date for completion to avoid the need to restart the process. 

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Cullens, noted his support for the Government's Levelling Up fund and UKSPF support for rural businesses. 

It was noted that not all trees planted survived, but it was hoped a good percentage would, as they were planted in partnership with organisations such as United Utilities and the Forestry Commission. 

The percentage of customers dissatisfied with the service they have received from the Council target of less than 17% was queried, but the Deputy Leader advised he was comfortable with this target.

Some good work had been undertaken relating to empty properties in the Borough, and the desire to keep these properties in circulation was reiterated. 

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded and it was Resolved (by majority 35:0:5) That the Corporate Strategy 2023/2024 be approved.