Decision details

Key Decision identified as Telford and Wrekin Council – Our 4 Year Programme To Invest, Protect And Care For The Borough  in the Notice of Key Decisions published on 16 May 2019.  The relevant Scrutiny Chair had been informed of the decision.

The Leader, Councillor S Davies, presented the report of the Managing Director which identified the Council’s strategic focus through to 2023 and a process to drive its delivery following the outcome of the local elections in May 2019.  In response to the results of the election, it was proposed that the Council adopted the following five “Community Commitments”:

1.    Continue to fight the closure of the Princess Royal Hospital’s 24/7 A&E and consultant led Women and Children’s Centre.

2.    Continue to keep Telford and Wrekin’s Council Tax among the lowest in the Midlands.

3.    Continue to invest £80m per year in protecting the most vulnerable adults and children in the community, including those who are victims and survivors of sexual exploitation and domestic abuse.

4.    Continue to Invest £50m in roads and footpaths across Telford and Wrekin and to continue to invest in creating new jobs for residents.

5.    Continue to fight any proposed merger with Shropshire Council or other authorities as the borough is best served by retaining its own council.

The Administration’s ambition was for Telford & Wrekin to be a family friendly borough and Telford & Wrekin Council would seek to protect, care and continue to invest in services and the community despite the severe financial challenges that still lay ahead. To support this, underpinning these five “Community Commitments”, were 13 themes to inform the organisation’s delivery focus:

·         Working for Every Community

·         Improving Health & Wellbeing across Telford & Wrekin

·         Securing the best start in life for Children & Young People

·         Investing in Telford & Wrekin

·         Supporting inclusive growth, jobs and new skills

·         Supporting home owners and renters

·         Making Telford & Wrekin Safer

·         A Home for Heroes

·         Improving Transport in Telford & Wrekin

·         Ensuring a Sustainable Environment in Telford & Wrekin

·         Our, past present & future – Community Pride

·         Making Telford & Wrekin A Great Place to Visit

·         Culture, Leisure & Arts at the Heart of Telford & Wrekin

The key actions that had been identified to deliver against these themes were set out in Appendix 1 to the report and the steps to driving delivery of the commitments and objectives were set out in the report.

RESOLVED – that

(a)          the proposed five “Community Commitments”, organisational themes and actions as set out at at paragraphs 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 of the report be adopted;

(b)          the proposed review of the Council’s service and financial planning policy framework to drive the delivery of these commitments, themes and actions as set out at paragraph 4.7 of the report be endorsed; and

(c)          the proposed timetable for Cabinet to receive a refreshed Council Plan in July be endorsed.