Agenda item

Five Year Plan 2021-26 and Slough 2040 Vision

Decision:

(a)  Recommend that the refresh of the Five Year Plan as at Appendix A to the report be approved.

 

(b)  Endorse the Slough 2040 Vision on behalf of Slough Borough Council, as laid out in section 5.2 and Appendix B of the report.

Minutes:

The Associate Director, Place Strategy & Infrastructure introduced a report that asked the Cabinet to recommend the refreshed Five Year Plan to Council and to endorse the Slough 2040 Vision.

 

The Five Year Plan was the Council’s main strategic document in defining its ambition and priority outcomes, and the plan was fully aligned with the Council’s budget.  The refreshed plan was included at Appendix A to the report and whilst there were no substantive changes to the priorities this year there had been some amendments to streamline the document and make it more accessible to residents.

 

The Five Year Plan had been introduced in 2015 and a presentation was given that set out the progress and achievements year by year in delivering the plan.  It included the delivery of new leisure facilities such as the ice arena and The Centre; the establishment of new housing companies and sustained investment in affordable housing; national recognition for the work to raise awareness of the issue of modern slavery; the activity to increase flu immunisation take up; and a wide range of regeneration projects including the hotels development on the Old Library site that opened ahead of schedule in February 2021.  The approach to partnership working was also highlighted and had put the town in strong position to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, for example through the One Slough community response.

 

The Five Year Plan was part of the Council’s Policy Framework and the Cabinet agreed to recommend approval to Council on 8th March 2021.

 

The plan also now represented the Council’s contribution to the delivery of the Slough 2040 Vision.  The Council had worked closely with partners in the NHS, Thames Valley Police, Slough Council for Voluntary Service and others to develop a shared vision for the next twenty years.  The project team had carried out extensive engagement and had proposed the following vision statement:

 

“Slough will be a vibrant, thriving and innovative town, where people are supported to live happy and fulfilled lives.  People will feel safe and valued in their local communities, and proud to call Slough home.”

 

The vision statement was underpinned by eight priority areas, which were the focus of delivery and these were set out in Appendix B to the report.  The Cabinet was asked to endorse the vision and noted that other partners were also seeking approval by their respective decision making bodies.

 

Lead Members discussed the 2040 Vision and particularly welcomed the partnership approach that had been taken to set out a shared direction of travel for the town.  The past year had underlined the value of strong partnerships with communities and the role of the voluntary and community sector was highlighted as being particularly important.  It was agreed there should be regular milestones set out in the short, medium and longer term so that progress in achieving the vision could be measured.  This process should be informed by data and evidence.  At the conclusion of the discussion, the Cabinet agreed to endorse the Slough 2040 Vision.

 

Recommended –  That the refresh of the Five Year Plan as at Appendix A to the report be approved.

 

Resolved –  That the Slough 2040 Vision be endorsed on behalf of Slough Borough Council, as laid out in section 5.2 and Appendix B of the report.

Supporting documents: