Agenda and draft minutes

Members of the Council should declare any interests which fall under the following categories:

a)   disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI);

b)   other significant interests (OSI);

c)   voluntary announcements of other interests.

There were no declarations of interest at the meeting.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2019 as a true record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2019 were agreed as a true record.

The Director of Corporate Services invited feedback from the Group Leaders, on the Corporate Plan priorities from the Groups.

The Working Group Members set out their priorities and suggested amendments.

The Organisational Development Business Partner then advised on some of the feedback received from staff on the priorities.

The Director of Corporate Services then advised on the suggested sub-headings to sit under the Corporate Plan priorities and the Working Group Members gave their feedback.

The Working Group Members agreed the Sub-Headings as a working draft.

The Director of Corporate Services advised that the next steps were to take the draft to the Corporate Leadership Team, and agree the more specific detail. She advised that the intention was to have clear, shorter objectives, backed up with a delivery plan.

She also advised that KCC were presently consulting on their corporate priorities, and advised that she would bring a summary of these to the next meeting of the Working Group.

The Chief Economic Development Officer gave a presentation which set out trends in key economic indicators in the district, including comparisons with other districts in Kent.

Members commented on various issues including the comparisons between the population sizes of each district, and also East Kent’ College’s impact on qualification levels of residents.

It was agreed that a synopsis of the findings, and how they impact on the Corporate Plan priorities, be brought back to a meeting of the Working Group for consideration.

The Senior Communications and Engagement Officer gave a presentation which set out options for carrying out a resident’s survey, and sought Members views.

The Working Group Members asked for a list of the proposed questions to be circulated.

Members commented on various issues, and made points including the following:

·       The method of selection needed to be inclusive. Could it still allow for residents outside of the selected 10% to complete the survey?

·       The survey should be kept simple.

·       A reward or incentive should be offered to encourage completion of the survey.

It was agreed that a residents survey be carried out, subject to the Working Group’s approval of the proposed questions, and the selection methods in respect of how the survey is to be distributed.

Action points to consider:

·       The Director of Corporate Services to bring back to a future meeting a summary of the Corporate Priorities which KCC’s were presently consulting on.

·       The Chief Economic Development Officer to bring back to a future meeting a synopsis of the findings relating to the key economic indicators, and how they impact on the Corporate Plan priorities, be brought back to a meeting of the Working Group for consideration.

·       That the Senior Communications and Engagement Officer circulate the proposed questions for the Residents Survey to the Working Group members.