A new corporate strategy, setting out the council's ambitions and priorities up to March 2028, has been adopted unanimously by councillors at a meeting of Full Council on Monday 18 March.
The feedback received through a period of public consultation last year from residents and stakeholders helped shape the new strategy, which outlines the council’s longer-term vision and aspirations for the next four years.
It features three key themes: communities, prosperity and environment and under each outlines a number of council priorities, which, among others, include providing affordable, high quality and safe homes to meet the needs of residents, developing safer and more resilient communities, attracting and supporting business growth as well as protecting and enhancing the environment.
With this comes a key focus to ensure equal opportunities are at the heart of everything the council does and ensuring services are fit for the future. This strategy will be supported by the council’s new Fit for the Future transformation programme, ensuring that council services are delivered in the most efficient and effective way to help meet long-term financial challenges.
Working in collaboration with partners across Essex is recognised as being crucial in delivering these priorities to deliver better outcomes for residents and businesses.
Cllr Graham Butland, Leader of Braintree District Council, said: “Adoption of the corporate strategy is a major milestone, enabling us to focus our budget and resources on the priorities identified within it. Thank you to residents, businesses and partners who fed back on the strategy which has helped us to ensure our strategic direction aligns with the aspirations of those who live and work in our district.
“Running through the strategy is a desire to develop stronger and safer communities, sustainable economic growth, safeguarding our environment, delivering and protecting services, whilst making sure to reduce the impact inequalities have on local people and our communities. Our goal is to continue maintaining and enhancing the high standards we have set in providing quality services, thriving on the strengths of our communities, businesses and environment and deliver the shared commitment to a brighter future.”
The council’s annual plans outline key projects and targets to deliver the priorities within the strategy and will report on their progress. The annual plan for 2024-2025 will be considered at a Cabinet meeting in May 2024.
The strategy can be found on the council’s website.