Agenda item

Corporate Priorities 2018 - 2022 - Cabinet - 5 September 2018 (Recommendation 1)

Minutes:

The Full Council considered report CEx/48 of the Chief Executive, which had been previously considered at the meeting of the Cabinet on 5 September 2018.

 

Councillor Lamb moved and presented the report which related to the Council’s Corporate Priorities and set the strategic direction of the Council until 2022. He commented that he would accept the proposed Conservative Amendment, namely that the third bullet point of Section 2. Delivering affordable homes for Crawley and reducing homelessness, would now read:

 

We will:

·         Continue working with neighbouring councils in the spirit of partnership to collectively deliver housing to meet Crawley's needs through the 'duty to     co-operate arrangements".

 

Councillor P. Smith seconded the recommendation, as amended.

 

Councillor Lanzer then spoke on the Conservative amendment, in doing so acknowledged his appreciation for the acceptance of comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Commission and raised the importance of working in partnership with neighbouring Councils. He thanked the Leader for accepting the amendment. 

 

Councillor Crow who also spoke on the item

 

The Mayor called for a vote on the substantive Recommendation as amendment, which was carried unanimously.

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That Full Council approves the Corporate Priorities 2018 – 2022 (As set out below)

 

 

Corporate Priorities 2018 – 2022

 

1.    Delivering value for money and modernising the way we work

 

We will:

  • Continue to balance the budget (over a three year period), by improving our efficiency, increasing income and investing ethically and wisely.
  • Work to keep council tax low without compromising local services and put money back into local reserves where possible, to finance future investments.
  • Deliver the Transformation Plan.
  • Develop digital service delivery enabling customers to engage with council services at their convenience, via an updated website and a new online self-service application.
  • Develop a New Town Hall with lower running costs and high grade office space for residents, staff and commercial tenants.

 

 

2.    Delivering affordable homes for Crawley and reducing homelessness

 

We will:

·         Continue to deliver as much affordable housing as possible, particularly Council housing, through our own-build and enabling programmes for people with a local connection to Crawley.

·         Drive down homelessness across the borough and support partner agencies to help those most in need.

·         Continue working with neighbouring councils in the spirit of partnership to collectively deliver housing to meet Crawley's needs through the 'duty to co-operate arrangements’.

 

3.    Improving job opportunities and developing the local Economy

 

We will:

  • Develop an Economic Development vision and plan.
  • Deliver the Crawley Growth Programme to provide major improvements to the town’s infrastructure, including more sustainable transport and better community facilities.
  • Deliver pathways to better job opportunities for local residents, through the ongoing development and delivery of Crawley’s Employment and Skills Plan.
  • Continue to work closely with our Local Economic Partnerships to deliver economic growth and jobs in the town.
  • Utilise our place making responsibilities and powers to drive business growth and create new employment opportunities.

 

4.    Creating stronger communities

 

We will:

  • Support local groups in delivering a range of events and activities that celebrate Crawley’s diversity.
  • Promote neighbourhood forums as a means of giving residents a voice over how services are delivered.
  • Continue to help local voluntary organisations, through the grants process to provide important services.
  • Continue to work with our partners to make Crawley a safe place.

 

5.    Providing high quality leisure and culture facilities and supporting health and wellbeing services

 

We will:

  • Continue to invest and enhance the town’s leisure and culture facilities, such as local parks, the Museum, K2 Crawley, the Hawth, adventure playgrounds and the Nature Centre.
  • Work with partners and other key stakeholders to enhance our resident’s health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities across our town.

 

6.    Protecting the environment

 

We will:

  • Protect and enhance our environment by reducing the Council’s and the town’s Carbon footprint.
  • Deliver a number of energy efficient schemes including, a District Heat Network for the Town Centre, Combined Heat and Power at K2 Crawley and a Water Source Heat Pump at Tilgate Park.
  • Continue to reduce, reuse and recycle our waste, providing the mechanisms to encourage residents to do more to recycle their waste.
  • Continue to seek measures to improve the air quality across the Borough.
  • Implement Crawley 2030, Local Plan and ensure that it remains up to date and reflects the key issues and growth challenges facing the town.
  • Continue to provide a safe, clean and well maintained town, through the use of area focussed multi skilled teams.