We are pleased to introduce the Corporate Plan 2015-18 for Cannock Chase Council. This is our key corporate plan setting out what the Council has achieved over the last three years and what it intends to prioritise over the next three year period. The Plan is not just confined to what the Council is directly responsible for. As a democratically elected public body, our 41 Councillors have a responsibility to represent their constituents across a wide range of issues that affect the quality of life in the District. This ‘Community Leadership’ role means that the Council will get involved in, and comment upon, strategic and service issues that may not be directly within the control of the Council but are important to the District.
The context for local government over the past five years has been one of financial austerity. In this period, the grant the Council receives from central Government has reduced by over 50% and we have had to generate other sources of funding from business rates growth and new homes bonus as well as the income which the Council generates directly from some of its chargeable services. This austerity will continue in the new Parliament and local government will continue to have to deliver large financial savings especially as it is not a protected sector like the NHS and Education. Overall, this Council has taken difficult decisions early and has delivered substantial savings from its long term partnership with Wigan Culture and Leisure Trust, its Shared Services partnership with Stafford Borough Council and by reducing management and administrative costs year on year. The longstanding principle that this Council has followed in that time is to protect frontline services and make reductions elsewhere through a variety of means. Whilst the Council undoubtedly faces further financial challenges in the year ahead, it is starting from a position of relative financial stability with a robust medium term financial strategy.
Looking ahead, there are also opportunities to improve quality of life for people who live and work in the District. Unemployment levels have fallen, business growth in the District remains buoyant, significant investment is planned in new and existing housing, new sports and leisure facilities will be established and improvements will continue to be made to the District’s parks and open spaces.
The Council works in partnership with a wide range of public, private and voluntary organisations. The challenges facing this District are complex and no organisation acting alone will be able to address these. Making progress means being committed to collaboration within the District, across Staffordshire and the whole West Midlands city region.
Our commitment to you as Leader and Managing Director is that we will remain focused on the issues that are important in Cannock Chase, however difficult and challenging these may be.
The Corporate Plan can be viewed here or downloaded in pdf version from the foot of this page.
(Click anywhere on the document below to view in full page mode)
Corporate Plan 2015-18 - pdf version
Last Updated: 10/10/2016