The Council has decided on six priorities for the years 2010/11 as follows:
safer Spelthorne
reduce crime
reduce anti-social behaviour
reduce re-offending
improve confidence and provide greater reassurance
supporting younger people
increase the level of satisfaction of young people living in Spelthorne
increase the number of hours/week young people spend in healthy activities
increase the satisfaction of the general population with the facilities available for younger people
cleaner and greener environment
improve local bio-diversity
encourage the early adoption of the Local Development Framework to help deliver the social, economic and environmental need of the Borough
use the Home Energy Conservation Act provisions to tackle fuel poverty issues, helping individuals improve the energy efficiency of their homes
boost our recycling rate to meet our statutory target
improve satisfaction with street scene issues
reduce our carbon footprint
risk assess currently identified possible contaminated land sites
supporting housing needs
encourage the construction of sustainable new homes - particularly affordable homes that meet family needs
introduce and develop a choice-based lettings scheme
increase the number of households prevented from becoming homeless
encourage regeneration schemes to improve the quality of housing in the Borough and to achieve integrated sustained communities
help for older people in need
supply meals on wheels to those that need it every day
provide a personal alarm service and telecare facilities to those in need
increase the provision of extra care housing in the Borough
facilitate the provision of day care activities to the frailer, older people in greatest need
ensure we have a concessionary fares scheme that is affordable and attractive to users
economic development
undertaken initiatives to improve our unemployment rate
complete in partnership with Surrey County Council area regeneration schemes in Ashford, Shepperton and Sunbury Cross
work with our partners to more effectively promote the Borough of Spelthorne as a place to visit and do business, particularly emphasising its key asset the River Thames running through the borough. Increased visitor numbers will bring economic benefits
make best use of Spelthorne's natural geographical advantages (close to London and major transport links) to improve our economic competitiveness and promote Spelthorne as a place to visit
working with you partners and with the Spelthorne Business Forum we will help improve awareness of employers as to support and training assistance available to them
undertaken initiatives that improve the employability of Spelthorne's workforce
These priorities provide the Council’s focus for its work over the next 12 months and reflect on the key services provided for Borough residents.
Running through all six Priorities and of paramount importance to the future of Spelthorne is the need for a sustainable financial future and value for money services. As an ambitious authority our level of performance, both direct and in relation to others, is important to us. Equally we know that we must continually improve and do more with fewer resources. In common with all public sector bodies our financial position is becoming increasingly challenging such that we will have to reduce our operating costs to live within our projected budgets. Procurement, project and risk management are important to us achieving what we want.
Customer satisfaction with our services is a high priority as is effective service delivery.
Over the period of this plan we aim to:
manage our finances through a rolling budget that takes account of the various outside pressures on us
undertake business improvement reviews and implement recommendations in order to reduce our operating costs
active review the use of our assets
improve the use of all of our resources through:
closely managing our finances on a short/medium/long term basis
managing risk actively
improving our project management
increasing customer satisfaction
improving performance management to ensure effective service delivery
improving the value for money that we provide
increase the value of efficiency saving from our procurement operations
seek out opportunities to deliver services more efficiently, effectively and with greater resilience by working in partnership with other bodies
managing all staff in a respectful and professional way
