Issue - meetings

The report will follow, to enable any comments received from Executive Members to be incorporated.

Members considered a report seeking adoption of a new Corporate Plan. 

Councillor Haysey said the plan was an overarching, strategic document, against which actions would be monitored going forward.  She proposed, and Councillor Williamson seconded, a motion supporting the recommendation in the report. 

Councillor Goldspink proposed an amendment.  She said there were many good aspects to the draft plan, but in light of the climate change motion adopted in July 2019, it should be more ambitious.  She proposed two additional actions under the Sustainability Actions/Key Projects 2020/21, an additional item 1d to “Review all the Council’s landholdings, parks and recreation areas and assess which could be used for extending hedges and tree coverts”; and an additional item 2d to “ Ensure that new developments will include 30% of tree canopy area”. 

Councillor Corpe seconded the amendment. 

Councillor E Buckmaster said these were worthy objectives, but did not necessarily need to be included in the Corporate Plan, as that document did not go into detail.  Most of the District’s open spaces included such green areas, and the strategic Masterplan for Harlow and Gilston Garden Town would look at the whole site and see where such spaces should be sited. 

Councillor Haysey agreed, but said it was important that the tree canopy comprised the right type of trees in the right locations, and that the right approach was taken. 

Councillor Redfern said her earlier motion without notice had aimed to ensure this item was debated before the Masterplanning Framework items on the agenda were considered.  She supported the amendment. 

The amendment having been proposed and seconded, it was put to the meeting.  A vote being taken, the amendment was declared LOST.

The substantive motion being put to the meeting and a vote taken, it was declared CARRIED. 

RESOLVED – that the new Corporate Plan as annexed to the report be adopted. 

This item will be issued in a supplementary agenda, following consideration by the Performance, Audit and Governance Oversight Committee.

To recommend the Council adopts the new Corporate Plan.

The Executive considered a report on the development of a new Corporate Plan, which sought Members’ approval to recommend a draft Corporate Plan to Council.

Councillor Haysey said the aims had changed since the last corporate plan in 2016, to reflect external changes regarding sustainability in the context of climate change, and the continued importance of digital transformation.  There were four cross-cutting themes, “sustainability at the heart of everything we do, enabling our communities, encouraging economic growth, and digital by design”, which could be summarised as an appropriate acronym, “SEED”.  The Corporate Plan set out high level ambitions, in a concise format.  An annual action plan would be brought before Members, to enable monitoring of the work done against these strategic aims. 

Councillor Haysey thanked the Members of the Performance, Audit and Governance Oversight Committee for their comments, which had been incorporated where feasible.  She thanked the Hertford Sustainability Climate Group which had acted as a critical friend. 

Councillor McAndrew welcomed the Corporate Plan and in particular its emphasis on sustainability.  The Council’s Environment and Climate Change Forum had taken place last week, attended by 120 people representing a range of groups including Extinction Rebellion, residents, community groups and local businesses.  Further events were planned, and contributions from the ideas put forward would inform the development of a Masterplan document.

Councillor Curtis said he was a Member of the Performance, Audit and Governance Oversight Committee.  This was a good plan, and he supported the fact that the environmental sustainability aspect was also a cross-cutting element of the other aims.  He sought confirmation that there was an intention to maintain the character of the area, via the District Plan.

Councillor Haysey agreed that sustainability would run through everything the Council did, but the District should also continue to value and enjoy the qualities of its heritage.  She was pleased that Councillor Page was present, as he would be taking on the role of Heritage Champion.

Councillor Haysey proposed, and Councillor Cutting seconded, a motion to support the recommendations as set out in the report.  The motion being put to the meeting, and a vote taken, it was declared CARRIED. 

RECOMMENDED – that the new Corporate Plan is adopted.