REVIEW OF THE CORPORATE STRATEGY 2006-2009

The Corporate Strategy forms a key part of the Policy Framework for the County Council and is included in the Constitution. On 22 May 2006 the Cabinet considered the draft direction and priorities, and proposals for the development of the revised Corporate Strategy and supporting corporate business plan for the period to May 2009.

This follows a series of meetings between the Cabinet and the Corporate Management Team, which focussed on the Corporate Strategy taking a new approach. This has resulted in the development of a clear statement of political direction and revised priorities for the life of the administration. The future direction and priorities have been shaped by the results of the MORI 2004/05 Residents' workshop and the emerging Hampshire Local Area Agreement. The supporting corporate business plan will contain high level targets and will be monitored annually for performance at the corporate level by the Corporate Management Team and reported to the Cabinet.

RECOMMENDATION

That the County Council approve the proposed political direction and priorities and plans for the revised Corporate Strategy as described in the appendix attached to this report.

APPENDIX

Corporate Strategy: Political direction and priorities 2005 - 2009

The Corporate Strategy forms a key part of the policy framework for the County Council. Following the election in 2005, the Cabinet met to review the future direction and priorities for the County Council for the period to 2009 to provide the basis for a revised Corporate Strategy.

The Cabinet identified 1 overarching priority and 2 supporting priorities as follows:

Priority 1: Hampshire safer and more secure for all

Priority 2: Maximising wellbeing

Priority 3: Enhancing our quality of place

Priority 1: Hampshire safer and more secure for all

The Cabinet's top priority is to ensure that Hampshire is safer and more secure for all. This dovetails with the priorities established through the Local Strategic Partnerships, the Local Area Agreement and responds to the priorities of residents as shown in MORI surveys and user groups.

To deliver on this vision Hampshire County Council will prioritise measures which:

· Protect the vulnerable

· Maximise the safety built into the environment

· Help communities to feel secure and confident

· Support individual responsibility

· Help young people to lead safe, positive lives

The Cabinet will take a particular role in ensuring the delivery of initiatives which will help to deliver on the promise of Hampshire safer and more secure for all by seeking to set targets at the highest level in relation to the provision of Accredited Community Support Officers as a deterrent to crime and anti-social behaviour and as a visible means of support and reassurance to the community; ensuring that Hampshire's secondary schools deliver the Rights, Respect and Responsibilities programme to support young people as they become active citizens; increasing outreach work with young people and improving road safety and designing in safety to our built environment.

The Cabinet has identified two other two priorities which are valuable in their own right and contribute to securing a Hampshire that is safer and more secure for all.

Priority 2: Maximising wellbeing

Hampshire is a place where people should be able to do more than just live - they should enjoy a strong sense of wellbeing. The County Council will empower people to take a full part in their community and to access the services they need or want. With partners, the County Council will ensure that people have every opportunity to support themselves safe in the knowledge that if things go wrong we will be there with the right help to support them.

Priority 3: Enhancing our quality of place

Hampshire will be recognised by residents as a good place to live with excellent facilities, good transport links, a beautiful environment and a healthy economy. The County Council needs to ensure that this continues to be the case protecting local distinctiveness & diversity, respecting our heritage and planning positively for the future.

Corporate Business Plan

A corporate business plan will be developed in relation to the priorities which will identify key corporate targets and indicators which will be capable of being monitored on an annual basis. All departmental service plans will be expected to demonstrate how they contribute to the delivery of the priorities and support the corporate business plan.

The corporate business plan will include:

Services

· Targets set in relation to the Cabinet initiatives outlined above

· Key actions and targets from other statutory plans such as the Children and Young Person's Plan and the Local Transport Plan

· Other key actions from departmental service plans

Management Issues

· Key management priorities such as value for money and efficiency targets, equality and diversity and the pay and benefits programme, and

Partnership commitments

· Key corporate partnership commitments as in the Hampshire Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement.

The Corporate Strategy and supporting business plan will be published in September 2006.