Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report that provided an update on the Powering Our Future Programme. It included:

 

• Communities Powering Our Future – confirmation of priority workstreams and ‘Getting Ready’ exercise

• Partnerships Powering Our Future - draft Partnerships Charter for Cabinet approval

• Transformation Powering Our Future:

- Draft scope for 14 Transformation Reviews.

- Update on Xentrall Shared Services and Digital, Data & Technology (DDAT) projects.

• Colleagues Powering Our Future - draft Workforce Strategy for Cabinet approval.

• Regeneration Powering Our Future – update on Our Six Towns and the Tees Valley Care & Health Innovation Zone.

 

The framework for Powering Our Future was agreed by Cabinet in July 2023. Since then, work had taken place to develop and refine the focus of the Programme to ensure that it effectively responds to the challenges and opportunities facing the Council and the Borough.

 

In January 2024, Cabinet agreed the following Mission Statement for the Council:

 

‘We will be a bold, brave and innovative Council. Together with our partners we will make sure Stockton-on-Tees is a fair and equal place, where everyone is proud to live and work, where our communities flourish and people feel they belong. We want everyone in our Borough to participate in building a brighter future for all of us.’

 

Cabinet also agreed the areas of focus for 5 underpinning Missions:

 

•           Communities Powering Our Future.

•           Partnerships Powering Our Future.

•           Transformation Powering Our Future.

•           Colleagues Powering Our Future.

•           Regeneration Powering Our Future.

 

Powering Our Future set out a planned approach to carefully manage resources over the longer term. It would see the Council create a new relationship with communities, while providing efficient services that offer value for money and were valued by residents.

 

The Council approach would be iterative, building over time, to engage communities and undertake thorough reviews. This can avoid the need to make short-term cuts, which could be damaging to services and the residents the Council served.

 

The remainder of the report provided an update on each of the Missions, for Cabinet comment and approval. Regular reports to Cabinet would ensure that the Member-led approach drives the development and delivery of Powering Our Future.

 

The Missions were as follows:-

 

Communities Powering Our Future

This Mission sought to change the Council’s relationship with communities to make sure residents have happy, healthy lives. Three workstreams had been identified for this Mission, these were:

 

•           Communications.

•           Community Engagement.

•           Community Development.

 

Partnerships Powering Our Future

This Mission sought to ensure we are ‘Stronger together’. A Charter had been drafted, setting out proposed terms of engagement for the Council to observe when entering into any Partnership. This sought to ensure that the Council engaged in strong partnerships that delivered better outcomes for communities, efficiently and with available resources.

The draft Partnership Charter was attached to the report. Subject to Cabinet agreement, this would be embedded into working practices.

 

Transformation Powering Our Future

This Mission would identify new and innovative ways of working that were better for communities and more efficient. Proposals for the detailed scope of 14 Transformation Reviews that form Phase 1 of the Programme were attached at to the report for Cabinet approval. The purpose of the scope was to identify areas of review or improvement within a given project. The scopes aimed to provide clarity on the objectives of the project, in alignment with the Council’s Mission Statement.

 

Colleagues Powering Our Future

This Mission sought to empower colleagues to do the best they can for communities.   A copy of the draft Workforce Strategy was attached to the report for Cabinet approval.

 

Regeneration Powering Our Future

This Mission would drive economic growth to improve community prosperity and wellbeing.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

1. The updates on individual Missions be noted.

 

2. The Partnership Charter attached at Appendix 1 of the report be agreed.

 

3. Updates on the Xentrall Shared Services and DDAT projects in the Transformation Powering Our Future section be noted.

 

4. The scope for the 14 Transformation Reviews attached at Appendix 2 of the report be agreed.

 

5. The draft Workforce Strategy set attached at Appendix 3 of the report be agreed.

 

3.         Reasons for the Decision

 

            2.         Cabinet is recommended to agree updates on the Powering Our Future approach to ensure that the Council has a clear plan to address the financial challenges we face, at the same time as improving outcomes for communities, including:

 

•           Creation of opportunities to build brighter futures for our communities and reduce inequality, using the limited amount of money we have available. 

•           Carefully managing our resources, creating a new relationship with communities, while providing efficient services that are valued by our residents.

 

4.         Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

 

            None

 

5.         Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

 

            None

 

6.         Details of any Dispensations

 

            None

 

7.         Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

 

            Midnight Friday 26 April 2024

 

 

 

Proper Officer

Consideration was given to a report that provided an update on the Powering Our Future Programme. It included:

 

• Communities Powering Our Future – confirmation of priority workstreams and ‘Getting Ready’ exercise

• Partnerships Powering Our Future - draft Partnerships Charter for Cabinet approval

• Transformation Powering Our Future:

- Draft scope for 14 Transformation Reviews.

- Update on Xentrall Shared Services and Digital, Data & Technology (DDAT) projects.

• Colleagues Powering Our Future - draft Workforce Strategy for Cabinet approval.

• Regeneration Powering Our Future – update on Our Six Towns and the Tees Valley Care & Health Innovation Zone.

 

The framework for Powering Our Future was agreed by Cabinet in July 2023. Since then, work had taken place to develop and refine the focus of the Programme to ensure that it effectively responds to the challenges and opportunities facing the Council and the Borough.

 

In January 2024, Cabinet agreed the following Mission Statement for the Council:

 

‘We will be a bold, brave and innovative Council. Together with our partners we will make sure Stockton-on-Tees is a fair and equal place, where everyone is proud to live and work, where our communities flourish and people feel they belong. We want everyone in our Borough to participate in building a brighter future for all of us.’

 

Cabinet also agreed the areas of focus for 5 underpinning Missions:

 

•           Communities Powering Our Future.

•           Partnerships Powering Our Future.

•           Transformation Powering Our Future.

•           Colleagues Powering Our Future.

•           Regeneration Powering Our Future.

 

Powering Our Future set out a planned approach to carefully manage resources over the longer term. It would see the Council create a new relationship with communities, while providing efficient services that offer value for money and were valued by residents.

 

The Council approach would be iterative, building over time, to engage communities and undertake thorough reviews. This can avoid the need to make short-term cuts, which could be damaging to services and the residents the Council served.

 

The remainder of the report provided an update on each of the Missions, for Cabinet comment and approval. Regular reports to Cabinet would ensure that the Member-led approach drives the development and delivery of Powering Our Future.

 

The Missions were as follows:-

 

Communities Powering Our Future

This Mission sought to change the Council’s relationship with communities to make sure residents have happy, healthy lives. Three workstreams had been identified for this Mission, these were:

 

•           Communications.

•           Community Engagement.

•           Community Development.

 

Partnerships Powering Our Future

This Mission sought to ensure we are ‘Stronger together’. A Charter had been drafted, setting out proposed terms of engagement for the Council to observe when entering into any Partnership. This sought to ensure that the Council engaged in strong partnerships that delivered better outcomes for communities, efficiently and with available resources.

The draft Partnership Charter was attached to the report. Subject to Cabinet agreement, this would be embedded into working practices.

 

Transformation Powering Our Future

This Mission would identify new and innovative ways of working that were better for communities and more efficient. Proposals for the detailed scope of 14 Transformation Reviews that form Phase 1 of the Programme were attached at to the report for Cabinet approval. The purpose of the scope was to identify areas of review or improvement within a given project. The scopes aimed to provide clarity on the objectives of the project, in alignment with the Council’s Mission Statement.

 

Colleagues Powering Our Future

This Mission sought to empower colleagues to do the best they can for communities.   A copy of the draft Workforce Strategy was attached to the report for Cabinet approval.

 

Regeneration Powering Our Future

This Mission would drive economic growth to improve community prosperity and wellbeing.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

1. The updates on individual Missions be noted.

 

2. The Partnership Charter attached at Appendix 1 of the report be agreed.

 

3. Updates on the Xentrall Shared Services and DDAT projects in the Transformation Powering Our Future section be noted.

 

4. The scope for the 14 Transformation Reviews attached at Appendix 2 of the report be agreed.

 

5. The draft Workforce Strategy set attached at Appendix 3 of the report be agreed.

 

3.         Reasons for the Decision

 

            2.         Cabinet is recommended to agree updates on the Powering Our Future approach to ensure that the Council has a clear plan to address the financial challenges we face, at the same time as improving outcomes for communities, including:

 

•           Creation of opportunities to build brighter futures for our communities and reduce inequality, using the limited amount of money we have available. 

•           Carefully managing our resources, creating a new relationship with communities, while providing efficient services that are valued by our residents.

 

4.         Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

 

            None

 

5.         Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

 

            None

 

6.         Details of any Dispensations

 

            None

 

7.         Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

 

            Midnight Friday 26 April 2024

 

 

 

Proper Officer