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Dunstable Town CouncilDunstable Town Council

CORPORATE PLAN CORPORATE PLAN 2010 - 20132010 - 2013

Presentation by David Ashlee – Town Clerk Presentation by David Ashlee – Town Clerk

Larger Council’s NetworkLarger Council’s Network

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About me!About me!24 years in local government24 years in local government

21 years in principal sector21 years in principal sector

10 years at corporate management team 10 years at corporate management team levellevel

Previous roles included leisure services, Previous roles included leisure services, corporate performance, crime and disorder, corporate performance, crime and disorder, community planningcommunity planning

New to the town and parish sector – not a New to the town and parish sector – not a Clerk! Clerk!

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About DunstableAbout Dunstable

Town of approx 36,000 projected to grow to Town of approx 36,000 projected to grow to 40,000+40,000+

Market townMarket townRelatively affluent but with pockets of real Relatively affluent but with pockets of real

deprivationdeprivationSuffers from congestion and A5 running Suffers from congestion and A5 running

through town centrethrough town centreMaster Plan for town centre – A5 M1 road Master Plan for town centre – A5 M1 road

linklink

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About the CouncilAbout the Council

21 Members21 Members

Precept of £1,770,901Precept of £1,770,901

Council tax charge of £139.65 – tax base = 12,681Council tax charge of £139.65 – tax base = 12,681

Gross budget £2,375,000Gross budget £2,375,000

Capital budget £640,000 (£230,000 general Capital budget £640,000 (£230,000 general reserve)reserve)

Staff establishment 58 (26 FT, 23 PT, 9 seasonal, Staff establishment 58 (26 FT, 23 PT, 9 seasonal, projected 70+ by 2012)projected 70+ by 2012)

Salary bill approx £1.1millionSalary bill approx £1.1million

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About the CouncilAbout the Council ServicesServices

Large CemeteryLarge Cemetery 6 Allotment sites (250 plots)6 Allotment sites (250 plots) 12 recreation grounds, 2 town centre gardens, amenity sites, 10 12 recreation grounds, 2 town centre gardens, amenity sites, 10

play areas, 12 football pitches, closed church yardplay areas, 12 football pitches, closed church yard Heritage centreHeritage centre Events programmeEvents programme 3 x community buildings with associated services3 x community buildings with associated services Town centre management –Christmas lightsTown centre management –Christmas lights Older persons day careOlder persons day care Community GrantsCommunity Grants Summer play schemeSummer play scheme Administrative and civic functions – range of buildings incl. 2 x Administrative and civic functions – range of buildings incl. 2 x

grade 2* listed buildingsgrade 2* listed buildings

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Senior Management Team Senior Management Team StructureStructure

Town Clerk

Head of Finance and

Support Services

Head of Grounds and

Environmental Services

Head ofCommunity Services

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Dunstable Town Council Wider Dunstable Town Council Wider Family TreeFamily Tree

DUNSTABLE TOWN

COUNCIL

BUILDINGS SUPPORT

Brasier Freeth

ACCOUNTANCY SUPPORT

DCk Beavers Ltd

EXTERNAL AUDITORSThe Audit

Commission

INTERNAL AUDIT

SUPPORTAuditing Solutions

Ltd

LEGAL SUPPORT

RichardNixonAustinCarnley

HR AND HEALTH

AND SAFETY

SUPPORTCroner

Consulting

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Council Committee StructureCouncil Committee StructureCouncil

(21 Members)

Community Services

Committee(12 Members + 2)

Finance and General Purposes

Committee(14 Members + 2)

Grounds andEnvironmental

Services Committee(12 Members + 2)

Grants Sub-Committee

(4 Members)

Appeals and Appointments

Committee(4 Members)

Accounts Sub-Committee

(4 Members)

Plan Sub- Committee

(7 Members)

Town CentreManagementCommittee

(5 Members)

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What is A Corporate Plan?What is A Corporate Plan?

Sets out organisation visionSets out organisation visionSets out organisation prioritiesSets out organisation prioritiesSets out key actionsSets out key actionsSets out performance measuresSets out performance measuresNot a Town Plan Not a Town Plan (a Corporate Plan (a Corporate Plan

doesdoes as opposed to as opposed to influencesinfluences))In DTC’s case, Corporate Plan will be In DTC’s case, Corporate Plan will be

guiding Council policy documentguiding Council policy document

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Why have a Corporate Plan?Why have a Corporate Plan?

Compulsion?Compulsion?

Informs Members, staff, residents and Informs Members, staff, residents and partners what the Council intends to dopartners what the Council intends to do

Where discretion exists, gives clarity and Where discretion exists, gives clarity and focusfocus

Why not a Town Plan?Why not a Town Plan?

Council spends £millions of public moneyCouncil spends £millions of public money

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Why a Corporate Plan now?Why a Corporate Plan now?

New Council formed in June 2009 including New Council formed in June 2009 including 10 new Members10 new Members

New Senior Management Team recruited New Senior Management Team recruited during 2009 following management during 2009 following management restructurerestructure

Position in Growth Area Position in Growth Area

Formation of new unitary authorityFormation of new unitary authority

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ProcessProcess

Senior management and Member Senior management and Member Away Day November 2009Away Day November 2009

Presentation and workshop April 2010Presentation and workshop April 2010

Adoption by Full Council 5 July 2010Adoption by Full Council 5 July 2010

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Council PrioritiesCouncil Priorities

To represent residents and businesses of To represent residents and businesses of Dunstable on key strategic issues facing the townDunstable on key strategic issues facing the town

To preserve and enhance the history and identity To preserve and enhance the history and identity of the townof the town

To improve and develop the provision of green and To improve and develop the provision of green and open space in the townopen space in the town

To improve services targeted to all community To improve services targeted to all community sectors in the townsectors in the town

To contribute to the regeneration of the town To contribute to the regeneration of the town centre and development of neighbourhoodscentre and development of neighbourhoodsin the townin the town

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What will the plan achieve?What will the plan achieve?Improved decision makingImproved decision making

Green Flag AwardsGreen Flag Awards

In Bloom Success – gold award, regional best new In Bloom Success – gold award, regional best new entryentry

Investors in PeopleInvestors in People

Nil reliance on reservesNil reliance on reserves

Demonstrable improved performanceDemonstrable improved performance

Additional services and organisational growthAdditional services and organisational growth

Inward investmentInward investment

Improved sense of place and imageImproved sense of place and image

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New Peter Newton Community New Peter Newton Community Centre - £1.5millionCentre - £1.5million

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Improved Dunstable CemeteryImproved Dunstable Cemetery£650,000£650,000

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Improved Play AreasImproved Play Areas£320,000£320,000

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Creasy Park Football HubCreasy Park Football Hub£3million joint project with CBC£3million joint project with CBC

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CIVIC PRIDE – REFURBISHED GATED CIVIC PRIDE – REFURBISHED GATED ENTRANCE TO GROVE HOUSE GARDENSENTRANCE TO GROVE HOUSE GARDENS