Council Plan 2023 to 2027

The Council Plan sets the priorities for the Council and guides what we do and our budget sets out how we will fund delivery of these priorities. The Plan combined with our Charter for Public Participation, values, People Plan and budget give direction to what every Council team does. Councillors and staff are central to achieving the vision and change and we will support them so they can do the best possible job for our communities.

Getting the basics right and acting on the things that people have told us are most important to them matters. Improving customer care and how we do things runs as a theme throughout the Plan and is a focus for our staff, so that whenever people speak to or meet someone from the Council that person feels supported and listened to. Becoming the best Council means moving beyond customer service to focusing on how we connect with people. Acting with care in everything that we do from a phone call to how we deliver new homes.

All Councils are facing economic and financial uncertainty and there will be difficult choices ahead as the Council looks to make £27 million of savings between 2024 and 2027. But the Council has a good foundation, having delivered £38 million of savings over the last four years while keeping Council Tax low.

We will use our resources to provide quality services for the greatest impact. Over the next four years the Council will spend £547 million of capital, on homes, transport, the environment, and schools – the things that matter to people. Reflecting on the lessons from Grenfell we are committed to using a social investment approach, so that the buildings we own (like offices and libraries) and the money we spend drives benefit directly or indirectly for communities. We will also prioritise the impact on the safety and wellbeing of our residents when we make decisions about spending. Decisions about spending will be taken transparently and only after consultation with affected residents.

To deliver the Plan we need to continue listening to and talking with residents, communities and our partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors, as we take on the challenge to become the best Council for a borough that is greener, safer, fairer. We will publish performance information so that people can track our progress and hold us to account.