Torfaen Council sets out new priorities

This week, Torfaen councillors endorsed the council’s political vision which will form the basis of its third Corporate Plan and sets out the council priorities for the next four years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s third corporate plan replaces the current plan at the end of this financial year in March and will be the council’s key strategic document from April 2016 until April 2020. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Anthony Hunt, said: ‘In line with best practice we’ve seen from Councils elsewhere in Britain, our political vision will sit at the very top of our corporate plan and give a clear statement of our priorities as a council. Following extensive engagement with members of the public, I was pleased that local people share our three top priorities to raise educational attainment, provide support for Torfaen’s most vulnerable residents and to make the borough cleaner and greener. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘The corporate plan will be supported by a detailed business plan which will set out how it will be delivered as well as all our other statutory and discretionary services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘Our plans recognise the difficult financial circumstances that all councils face thanks to cuts in funding and growth in demand and costs. It will therefore provide a guide through difficult choices about what we can prioritise and give guidance to officers on where to target diminishing resources. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The third corporate plan also recognises impending legislation such as the Health and Social Care Act and Wellbeing and Future Generations Bill, which will change how the council operates. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The business plan will also include arrangements for the delivery of the wider statutory and discretionary services that the council will continue to deliver outside of those identified within the political vision and outline how progress will be measured against key targets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The final plan will be submitted to council for approval on the 2nd February. The Business Plan, currently being developed through the Councils’ existing Service and Financial Planning processes will be agreed shortly after that. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Hunt added: ‘A clear direction, set by the Councils Political Leadership, will be invaluable in ensuring that the things that matter to the residents of Torfaen are the things that receive the most attention and resource and we will review our plans annually.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘Consultation on our plans has been thorough and has involved chief officers, elected members, staff, trade unions and almost one thousand local residents who took part in public engagement events during November.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The leader of Torfaen council, Cllr Bob Wellington said: ‘This plan recognises that despite our desire to provide services for the community, there is now a greater requirement for the council and our communities to work together to help achieve the best outcomes for the people of the borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘With this in mind, each priority includes a section setting out what can be expected from the council, where we can work in partnership and also what the council will reasonably expect from its residents.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​