Agenda item

The Data, Strategy and Performance Officer presented their report which reviews the Year 4 look forward actions for 2026-27.

The following areas were discussed:-

·       The maintenance of footpaths

·       Matched funding and what costs it covers and it was noted that as an Authority it is not possible to claim overheads via matched Lottery Funding.

·       If there was capacity within the Legal Team to progress the review of the Standing Orders which remains a priority.

·       The Nature Recovery Plan (NRP) and the apparent lack of targets associated with it.  It was explained that the NRP is not reported through the Authority Plan but through the Management Plan.  It was noted that an extra resource has been allocated to ensure that the actions for the NRP are progressed.

·       The progress of the Local Plan was discussed along with the time-table and the implications if the deadline is not met. It is critical that the July deadline is met to allow for the required period of consultation and pre-submission work to be completed.

·       Exposure to slippage in the Authority Plan was discussed, it was noted that a key staff appointment has recently been made and the authority is now expecting a period of stability and is not anticipating any further reductions which might impact on delivery.

·       It was clarified that the climate change objective in point E of the plan refers to the Authority’s business emissions. 

The recommendations as set out in the report were moved, seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

1.     The Authority Plan Programme for Year 4 2026/27 (Decile 7 & 8) is approved (see Appendix 1).

2.     That authority be delegated to the Head of Resources in consultation with the Chair of the Authority to make any necessary amendments to the actions or critical success factors detailed in the Authority Plan Programme Year 4: 2026- 27 in Appendix 1 due to arising changes in circumstance.