Issue - meetings

The 2024/25 initial proposals for highlight priorities are set out at Appendix B to this report. Through this report, Cabinet is invited to adopt these for consultation purposes before finalising its highlight priorities for 2024/25; which will involve consideration of the outcome of the consultation undertaken.

RESOLVED that Cabinet resolves that -

(a)    the initial highlight priorities for 2024/25, as set out at Appendix B to report A.2, be approved for consultation;

(b)    all Councillors, other partners and the public be invited to consider the initial priorities referred to in (a) above; and

(c)    the outcome of the consultation referred to in (b) above be reported to Cabinet on 15 March 2024 in order that Cabinet can formally adopt its finalised highlight priority actions for 2024/25.

Cabinet considered a report of the Leader of the Council & Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance (A.2).  The report reminded Members that the Council’s strategic direction was set out in its Corporate Plan which was a fundamental element of the Council’s Policy Framework.  The Corporate Plan (‘Our Vision’) had been adopted unanimously by Council on 28 November 2023 (Minute 76 referred) and covered the period 2024-28 (and was reproduced at Appendix A to the Portfolio Holder’s report).  Key elements of delivering against the adopted Corporate Plan would be through annual highlight priority actions approved by the Cabinet. The 2024/25 initial proposals for highlight priorities were set out at Appendix B to the Portfolio Holder’s report. Through that report, Cabinet was invited to adopt these for consultation purposes before finalising its highlight priorities for 2024/25; which would involve consideration of the outcome of the consultation undertaken.

Recognising that the rationale for the Portfolio Holder’s recommendations was to set out openly for all concerned the initial proposals for highlight priorities for 2024/25 and that this supported the openness agenda of the Council and provided an opportunity for engagement with the public, businesses and partners on those initial proposals.  Through consultation it was hoped that the views received could help shape the priorities that would finally be adopted (within the reality of the Council’s budgetary position).

It was moved by Councillor M E Stephenson, seconded by Councillor Placey and:-

RESOLVED that Cabinet resolves that -

(a)    the initial highlight priorities for 2024/25, as set out at Appendix B to report A.2, be approved for consultation;

(b)    all Councillors, other partners and the public be invited to consider the initial priorities referred to in (a) above; and

(c)    the outcome of the consultation referred to in (b) above be reported to Cabinet on 15 March 2024 in order that Cabinet can formally adopt its finalised highlight priority actions for 2024/25.