The Performance Plan 2006

In order to focus our efforts and resources on a manageable agenda in the short term, we have set the following priorities for the period 2005/06 to 2007/08:-

Priority 1: To improve customer service

We will do this by continuing to improve and expand the service provided by the Contact Centre which is operational from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. six days a week. We will develop our computer systems to ensure that we can respond to people’s requests more quickly and efficiently and make our processes more customer focused. We will increasingly enable residents to access Council services through the web-site and other technology. We will publish and work to service standards so that users of our services will know what levels of service they can expect and to deliver consistent customer service from our staff. Increasingly, we want to work more closely with our customers and monitor their feedback to ensure that services are meeting their needs.

Priority 2: To Achieve successful, sustainable new communities at Northstowe and other major new settlements

In the next 15 years, national, regional and county planning policies will require the building of substantial new settlements at Northstowe and around Cambridge. It is important for the residents of those settlements, surrounding villages and the district as a whole to achieve successful and sustainable new communities in those locations. We will do this by the development of planning policies and by working with Cambridgeshire Horizons, developers and other partners towards the effective implementation of those policies. We will also ensure effective corporate working and capacity to enable us to achieve this priority.

Priority 3: To increase the supply of affordable housing

The need for affordable housing is one of the results of the economic success of the area and is consistently one of the top priorities of local people in consultation. As a Council we have a good record of enabling the construction of 200 or more affordable homes each year. This has become more difficult because of national changes to funding arrangements, but at the same time the settlements at Northstowe and around Cambridge will provide opportunities to increase the supply of affordable housing of various tenures.

Why these priorities?

In adopting these priorities we have sought to strike a balance between national objectives (such as the national target to achieve electronic service delivery by the end of 2005 and to increase house building in the south east); local needs (such as affordable housing); and concerns expressed by local people for improved services.

How do the Priorities relate to the Corporate Objectives?

Table 1 shows how the three priorities have been devised to ensure progress on our long term Corporate Objectives:

Table 1 - Priorities and Objectives

How do we ensure that we deliver our priorities?

• We set out clear action plans with milestones to deliver our priorities, ensuring they are resourced (Chapter 9).
• We ensure that these plans are reflected in the plans of individual services in their service plans .
• We ensure that all staff are working towards the priorities by agreeing objectives with them in their appraisals.
• We set performance indicators to measure our progress. (Chapters 10 - 12).
• We monitor progress each quarter through Management Team and Cabinet and other mechanisms to ensure that progress is being made.