Corporate Plan
2013 - 2018
Investing for the next generation
Shepway District Council Corporate Plan 2013 – 2018
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Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Boost the local economy and increase job opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . 4
More homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Listening to local people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Support an attractive and vibrant place to live . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Deliver value for money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Shepway District Council Corporate Plan 2013 – 2018
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Introduction
T
his strategy sets out Shepway
District Council’s long-term vision
for improving the lives for all those
who live and work in the district.
We want to create opportunities for
people to prosper in the district and
maintain the reputation of Shepway as an
excellent place to live. Over the last twelve
months there have been major changes
within the council, particularly in the way
we work with partners, customers and
communities and we have seen a continued
improvement in the performance of our
services while also achieving significant
financial savings.
We now have solid foundations to build
on; councillors and staff with a strong
commitment to Shepway and a desire to
build a better future.
We recognise the importance of economic
growth, housing and giving people more
influence over council services - our
strategic objectives have been adjusted to
reflect this.
With reduced resources it also is important
that we focus on those areas where they
can have a transformational effect for the
people of Shepway. Consequently, the new
priorities are based around: supporting
local economic growth, developing housing
provision, fostering localism, maintaining an
attractive district and ensuring we provide
local people with value for money.
This document outlines the vision for
Shepway, our strategic objectives and how
we will achieve them over the next five
years.
The vision for Shepway
Prosperous and ambitious - Working for more jobs and homes in an attractive district
As a council, to help achieve the vision for the district, our five strategic objectives are:
Boost the local economy and increase job opportunities
More homes
Listening to local people
Support an attractive and vibrant place to live
Deliver value for money
Shepway District Council Corporate Plan 2013 – 2018
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Boost the local economy and
increase job opportunities.
Developing a sustainable and vibrant local economy is one of our priorities.
We want to increase opportunities for residents and businesses and improve standards of
living. We will do this by delivering key projects, working with partners, lobbying government
bodies, supporting local businesses and supporting the redevelopment of key local sites.
Actions
Outcomes by 2018*
Increase the supply of business incubation
units
2000 sq metres of units provided and
occupied.
48 businesses and 140 new jobs created.
Provide an information service to support
start up and small businesses
The business survival rate increased from
60% to 70%.
The number of start ups increased from 375
to 400 per year.
Support the redevelopment of key Shepway
sites (identified in the councils Core Strategy
Local Plan)
20 hectares of additional office/ industrial
premises delivered by 2031.
Continue to build stronger relationships with
businesses
A strategic business board established
where elected members will discuss the local
economy with business representatives.
Work with partners to support town centres
across the district
Town centres that are prosperous and popular areas to visit and work.
Provide an apprenticeship scheme
75 Shepway residents in the scheme per
year with 50% subsequently employed
(until March 2015).
Support further education provision in the
district to create an educated workforce
The council will have worked to ensure the
retention of a further education offer in
Folkestone.
Development started on key strategic sites
and development locations.
*unless stated
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More homes
We want Shepway residents to enjoy a healthy, prosperous lifestyle and we will ensure they
will benefit from high quality and affordable housing by making sure new homes are built in
the district and improving the standards of existing homes.
Actions
Outcomes by 2018*
Provide space for new homes within
Shepway
An average of 350-400 new houses built
per year.
2,000 to 2,500 new affordable dwellings
provided by 2031.
Provide new high quality council owned
housing
300 homes built over a 10 year period.
Increase the number of affordable homes
provided by councils partner organisations
100 new affordable homes built each year,
32 of which to be low cost home ownership.
The council will establish a regeneration and
housing company
Land identified which is suitable for housing
development.
This company will have made land available
for businesses looking to relocate to
Shepway.
Ensure vulnerable people are supported in
accessing housing
The council will have provided a high quality
homelessness service that responds to the
needs of our customers.
The council will have prevented at least 50%
of families at risk of homelessness from
losing a home.
Reduce the number of long-term empty
homes in the district
The council will have brought 35 long-term
empty private sector homes back into use
each year.
Improve housing conditions across the
district
100 private sector homes improved each
year, following intervention by the council.
*unless stated
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Listening to local people
We want to foster communities across Shepway where people feel safe and are able to have
a direct influence on the area around them.
Engaging with local residents and businesses is essential to ensure we meet their needs, so
the council will support local people in a number of ways.
Actions
Outcomes by 2018*
Provide opportunities for residents to
influence decisions and shape their local
community
A popular ward member budget scheme
and ward plans produced for each of the
electoral wards.
The council will have worked with partners,
including Town & Parish Councils, to
produce area plans.
Where appropriate the council will have
transferred its parks, open spaces (including
Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds) and
assets to the Town and Parish Councils.
Produced a Community Participation and
Empowerment Strategy which develops the
role of ward councillors.
Support people into work through the
Troubled Families Programme
The council and its partners will have worked
with at least 225 families by March 2015
to help them into work whilst also reducing
incidents of anti-social behaviour and school
exclusion.
Use the Community Infrastructure Levy
process to improve the local community
Introduced a Community Infrastructure
Levy Schedule which will have delivered
improvements to local infrastructure.
Deliver a risk based approach to tackling
anti-social behaviour
The council will have supported
communities and vulnerable adults who
have experienced serious or persistent
antisocial behaviour.
Support the production of neighbourhood
plans by Parish and Town Councils
Adopted neighbourhood plans that reflect
the Shepway Core Strategy Local Plan.
*unless stated
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Support an attractive and vibrant
place to live
We want to foster communities across Shepway where people feel safe and are able to have
a direct influence on the area around them.
Engaging with local residents and businesses is essential to ensure we meet their needs, so
the council will support local people in a number of ways.
Actions
Outcomes by 2018*
Provide public spaces which are clean and
well maintained
95% of streets assessed as above the street
cleansing standard for litter.
Retention of Green Flag status for the
Coastal Park and Royal Military Canal. Other
parks identified to apply for the Green Flag
award.
Achieved the Blue Flag status for Sandgate
and retained the Seaside Award for
Sandgate.
Enhance the district’s tourism offer
Targeted projects which increased the
number of visitors and improved the
reputation of Shepway.
The council will have worked with partners
to ensure the community benefits from an
attractive coastline.
Review and improve enforcement activity
relating to dog fouling, littering, flytipping
and flyposting
Provided an environmental enforcement
service that targets areas of high risk and
reacts to local communities.
*unless stated
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Deliver value for money
To be in a position to support the economic growth within the district we must perform
effectively.
We will continually seek ways to improve our efficiency and effectiveness to improve the
services we deliver and to support and empower the people who work for us. This includes
ensuring we are cost effective in the services we provide, making best use of the resources
and assets we own.
Actions
Outcomes by 2018*
Redesign service delivery models
Developed a commercial approach to
procurement.
Provided a wider variety of ways and times
in which to contact the council.
Customer enquiries resolved, wherever
possible, at first point of contact through the
Contact Centre.
Reduced office accommodation costs.
Considered appropriate models for
redesigning services
Targeted action to achieve savings and
efficiencies
5% overall operational savings per year
based on 2013/14 for 5 years.
Continue to improve customer service
across all services
Maintained Customer Charter Standards.
Increase the funding available to support
corporate initiatives
Increased useable capital receipts.
Retained Corporate Customer Service
Excellence Accreditation.
Maximised income and alternative funding
schemes.
Maximised return on ICT innovation fund.
Improve individual and organisational
performance
Lived the core values, behaviours and
competencies.
Developed and promoted a range of training
opportunities for all staff.
Reduced sickness absence to an average of 6
days per employee per year.
*unless stated
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✆ 01303 853000
Shepway District Council
Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue
Folkestone, Kent CT20 2QY
Telephone: 01303 853 000
www.shepway.gov.uk
Shepway District Council Corporate Plan 2013 – 2018
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