Agenda item

The Council Vision 2022-2026 was approved at Full Councill in March 2022. To support the Vision, we have a comprehensive set of measurable performance indicators which allow us to identify how well we are delivering across a full range of services.   Two kinds of indicators were agreed at the Policy and Finance Committee on 17 March 2022.  The first of these are the subject of this report, the ’Vision Indicators’ and this is the first annual report on them.  

The Group Head of Organisational Excellence was invited by the Chair to present her report to members. She advised that the council’s vision was set by members and agreed at Full Council in 2022. She confirmed the report was reported to all Committees and was grouped by each council vision theme rather than specific committee responsibility. The purpose of the report before members at the meeting was to allow for a focused discussion on those areas pertinent to the Corporate Support Committee.

The Chair then invited discussion on the vision document first and once all comments had been made on that discussion would move on to the appendix. Members discussed the picture on page 25 of the vision document of West Beach in Littlehampton. Discussion was centre around providing access for all to the beaches in the district. Reference was made to the Beach Access Working Party meetings that had taken place throughout the year alongside comments from one member who advised that there was a group in East Preston who had recently met with a design engineer who had presented a modular design that may be useable to get wheelchair users on to the beach. Final comments from members were to give thanks to those who had worked on the vision document. The Group Head of Organisational Excellence confirmed that reviews of the indicators were ongoing, whilst the vision had been agreed and set for the four-year period, there was a degree of flexibility within the indicators that may see changes should that be decided by members.

Moving discussion on to the appendix that contained the indicators, Councillor Turner advised members that he had raised a question outside of the meeting about the fact that there was no obvious mention of veterans or armed forces covenant throughout the Council Vision, he specifically listed CV6, CV7, CV8, CV13, CV34 and CV36 where he believed mention could or should have been made. He asked for his question and answered to be added to the minutes ((Public Pack)Question and Answer from Councillor Turner - Corporate Support Committee 27 June 2023) He stated in response to the answers he had received and thanked the Group Head of Organisational Excellence for her detailed response. He continued to advise that veteran’s and their families were a significant part of the community, stating over 10% of the Council chamber having veterans in their own families. There were many initiatives available to the veterans of the armed forces, most at no cost to the council. To raise awareness, he advised that some of the initiatives were Op Courage, The Veterans Trauma Network, Op Chavasse which was a clinic in Brighton available to people with musculoskeletal issues. The Armed Forces covenant was a positive not a negative and he hoped that people who were drafting the detail would now have the awareness to bring forward veterans’ issues. He then advised that he would share the veterans information pack he had would be shared with all members of the council. The Group head of Organisational Excellence confirmed that officers would work with Councillor Turner in assisting him with the best way to share information on this topic.

          Concerns were raised about CV10 and CV11 considering the rises in rents and mortgages with the current economic situation, where this could see a rise in demand for temporary and emergency accommodation required for the council to react to.

          It was asked if the Council had a disability and dementia strategy, where it was confirmed that it was believed there was, however more detail would be provided outside of the meeting.

Clarity was sought regarding CV4 – Wayfaring Strategy and when it would be presented to members at Committee for review. Concern was made given that work was being undertaken in Bognor Regis now without member consultation. The Committee Manager confirmed an update would be provided outside of the meeting as the relevant Officer was not in attendance to answer.

A final request was made for the Committee Manager to obtain an update in relation to CV29 as it was commented that there had been a breakdown in communication reported between the Council, the Bognor Regis Fishermen’s Association and other concessions regarding opportunities to improve their facilities.

 As there were no further questions, the Chair concluded that the item was finished.