Targets & Outcomes Approved For 2015/17 In Council Plan

Wrexham Council’s Plan for the next two and a half years was today approved – with details provided on how the Council will continue to deliver services while making budget cuts of £45m.

The Council Plan covers 2015/17 and sets out where the authority will ‘focus their energies’ and resources, along with setting ‘out a vision, purpose, guiding principles and values for the authority that set the context for three strategic themes – Economy, People and Place – and one corporate theme of Organisation – striving for excellence.”

Also included in the Council Plan are the outcome indicators, improvement activity and associated targets for the County Borough over the next few years. These include creating homes that meets people’s needs and aspirations, well connected communities, protecting the most vulnerable, children and young people achieving their potential; individuals prospering within their communities and to create a place where businesses can locate and grow.

Speaking about the plan at today’s meeting, Council Leader Mark Pritchard said: “We are here to support local people and help them fill their potential and prosper. We are facing budget cuts on a scale we have never seen before, we must continue to make bold and brave decisions.”

Cllr Pritchard added that he believes everyone should have a say on the way in which services are run in the County Borough and there has been a consultation process.

Also included in the Council Plan are performance outcomes which are measured in percentages. At present the target for ‘Customer Satisfaction with all Council services is 74, which is up only slightly on the 72 figure that was achieved in 2013/14 and down on the 86% for 2014/15.

One such figure was queried by Cllr Andrew Bailey who said: “The Council Leader said there are an increasing number of people contacting us and making comments – I am disappointed with the dissatisfaction of council services.

“I think we should aim to maintain what we have achieved.”

Cllr Pritchard said: “I am pleased with the percentage and delighted that the satisfaction is that. I would like it to be 100% in Utopia, but I do live in the real world and it is difficult to improve on a high figure. We will always look to increase the percentage.

“I think 86% is very high of customer satisfaction in this council. We don’t just work in one area – for us to get 86% I am really pleased with it. I don’t believe the 74% is right.”

Queries were also raised on the use of Equality Impact Assessments and also how the Council plan on prioritising the most vulnerable in Wrexham, with Cllr Malcolm King stating Wrexham Council needs to define what it means by ‘most vulnerable’ and what they are going to help them.

Cllr Dana Davies said: “The Council Plan has been developed around our ‘Reshaping Services to Meet the Financial Challenges’, the key thing in the Council Plan is we are going to do this while prioritising the most vulnerable. how do you propose to factor that into that future decision making of the council.”

Cllr Pritchard noted that the Council is facing cuts of up to £45m over the next few years and that it will impact the way services are delivered. It was also noted that a similar process of consultations, workshops and meetings with Trade Unions will take place.

Cllr Hugh Jones also assured the meeting that the Equality Impact Statements would be carried out to meet the required standards.

Speaking about the Council Plan and Equality Impact Assessments, Cllr David Bithell added: “Although there has been some negativity with the council plan, I think there are some good aspects going on despite the cuts being made. We have had more investment into roads and have reprioritised the budgets to put more into roads this year.

“I brought a report last month on waste and how good the council is at hitting its statutory targets. It’s not all perfect but despite the austerity and the cuts we are still trying to meet the needs of Wrexham.”

Cllr Bithell also made reference to a tweet sent by Cllr Arfon Jones, saying: “At the last Executive Board members made a decision to cease Post-16 Transport, whether you like it or not there was a full equality impact assessment. Would just like to remind you before you tweet the public, it was incorrect.”

The exchange between Cllr Arfon Jones and Cllr Hugh Jones on Twitter can be viewed below.

@ArfonJ @wrexhamcbc @hugh_wre We will comply with the statutory requirement to produce robust Equality Impact Assessments

— hugh jones (@hugh_wre) May 12, 2015

@hugh_wre @wrexhamcbc : we only had one for Post16 transport because I demanded one in Scrutiny and the first one wasn’t up to scratch.

— Arfon Jones (@ArfonJ) May 12, 2015

According to @wrexhamcbc Constitution members of committees are prohibited from tweeting whilst meeting is in progress.

— Arfon Jones (@ArfonJ) May 12, 2015

Members of the Executive Board voted in favour of the Council Plan – which can be viewed in full on the Wrexham Council website here.