Decision details

10.1

The Chief Executive submitted a report setting out an ambitious four-year draft Council Plan for Sheffield City Council and draft Performance Framework which will align to our new four-year Medium Term Financial Strategy. The draft Council Plan (Appendix 1) sets out a new mission for the organisation – ‘together we get things done’ – which is underpinned by five new strategic outcomes. It demonstrates how we will put the people of Sheffield at the heart of everything we do and prioritise the long-term prosperity of the city, leading the transition to net zero economy while protecting and investing in our treasured local environment.

The draft Plan offers a positive vision for the role that the whole organisation can play in contributing to the city’s success and helping achieve Sheffield’s new City Goals.

The draft Council Performance Framework (PMF) (Appendix 2) is a vital companion to the Council Plan, enabling us to take a rigorous approach to delivering our outcomes for the city. The PMF ensures that we can drive continuous improvement and that the people of Sheffield can hold us to account for achieving our commitments.

It is proposed that the draft Council Plan will be considered as part of the forthcoming Budget Conversation for 2024/25 (launches 21st December) and then be considered by S&R Committee as a revised final draft in February 2024 with the intention of it being presented to Full Council in March 2024 alongside the proposed Budget for 2024/25.

10.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

(a) endorses the draft Council Plan, as set out in Appendix 1:

(b) agrees to enable citizens to give their views on the draft outcomes as part of the budget conversation from the 21st December 2023;

(c) agrees to receive a revised final draft of Council Plan at the Strategy and Resources Committee meeting in February 2024;

(d) agrees the Draft Corporate Performance Management Framework in Appendix 2;

(e) requests that officers prepare a new Outcomes Framework to support monitoring of performance against the draft Council Plan and provide the wider measures in the Performance Framework and present this to Strategy and Resources Committee in early 2024; and

(f) agrees to receive annual reports providing an overview of performance against the proposed outcome framework once agreed.

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

The draft Council Plan provides a clear and positive statement of purpose and ambition for the whole council. It is aligned to our four year Medium Term Financial Strategy and the draft outcomes will increasingly become the focus for our budget and Directorate Plans over the coming year.

10.3.2

It is recommended that we seek citizen views on the new draft Plan alongside our budget proposals for the coming year so that citizens can see how we are seeking to invest in delivering our outcomes. We will then ensure that Strategy and Resouirces Committee and ultimately, Full Council, can consider the draft Plan alongside the proposed 2024/25 Budget in March 2024.

10.3.3

Similarly, the draft Council Performance Framework is a vital companion to the draft Council Plan. It will complement the new Plan, enabling citizens to hold us to account for achieving our outcomes and priorities.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

(a) do nothing – rejected – as set out in the Strategic Framework 2023/24, we are committed to developing and agreeing a medium[1]term plan for the council that sets out what we want to achieve for the city in the coming years and how we will contribute to the City Goals. The Council Plan is part of our Policy Framework and a critical step in our continued development as an organisation, connecting the ambitions and priorities of the administration to our Medium-Term Financial Strategy, workforce plans, Council Performance Framework, and Directorate Plans. It also ensures that we deliver on one of the key recommendations of the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge, further demonstrating our strategic development and maturity as an organisation.

10.4.2

(b) extend the Corporate Delivery Plan – rejected – the Corporate Delivery Plan has provided vital stability and focus for the organisation over the last year, building on the One Year Plan, and bringing clear focus onto a number of key challenges that citizens wanted to see improve. However, the Corporate Delivery Plan was deliberately short term and as recommended by the LGA Peer Team, it is important to bring medium-term focus for the Council so that citizens, staff and partners understand our priorities and ambitions.