In this section you will find information about our strategies,
plans and policies as well as information on how we monitor and
manage performance to help ensure we improve and maintain the
quality of services to the residents of Forest Heath.
To contact the Performance Management team, please email
performance@forest-heath.gov.uk
or telephone 01638 719274 / 719280.
Our Corporate Plan
We undertook a comprehensive public consultation exercise to inform
the Council's direction for the future and have aligned our new
priorities to meet public demand. A summary of the Corporate
Plan for 2008-2012 is given in the following paragraphs.
Alternatively, you can view or download a full version of our
Corporate Plan (Adobe Acrobat, file size
3MB).
Each year, we will produce an Annual Delivery Plan which will
provide detail of the key actions we will be looking to undertake
during the forthcoming year to deliver against the broad ambition
of our corporate priorities. We will be reporting the
progress we have made against each of these actions in our
Annual Report.
Our
Annual Delivery Plan 2008/09 is available to
view or download.
Our Mission
To be a highly regarded organisation providing and enabling
excellent services, continually improving the quality of life for
the Forest Heath community.
Our Vision
Clean - We will continue to keep the district
clean and ensure that our towns and villages are attractive places
in which to live, work and visit.
Green - We aim to ensure that Forest Heath's
natural environment is protected and enhanced for all and we will
work to limit our impact on the global environment.
Safe - We will work with our partners and the
community to ensure that Forest Heath remains a very safe place
that can be enjoyed at all times and where everyone is
respected.
Prosperous - Sharing in wealth through employment
opportunities is vital to securing a vibrant, cohesive and
sustainable community for the future. We will use our resources and
leverage to improve access to opportunities for learning and paid
work for all who seek it.
How the vision will be achieved:
- In partnership with public, private and voluntary sectors
- Through co-ordinated activity under the umbrella of the West
Suffok Local Strategic Partnership
- By working with and influencing the Suffolk Strategic
Partnership
- By continually improving our own service delivery
- By targeting actions within the Suffolk Local Area Agreement
where this meets our stated priorities
- We will extend our leadership role for the area - calling on
private, public and voluntary partners to work with us
- We will work to see that our powers and services contribute to
achieving the long term vision.
Our Values
Professionalism - Our employees and elected
Members will meet adopted codes of behaviour, relevant professional
standards and probity in all that we do. Service standards will be
further developed and expanded, to ensure that the customer knows
what can be expected from us at all times.
Efficiency - We aim to do the right thing, first
time, every time - and to do it well. We are continually improving
our services and we empower our managers and staff to do what
needs to be done, in order to make things better. We have made good
progress in removing unnecessary steps in our processes and we will
continue to improve systems and make savings.
Accountability - All Forest Heath Councillors and
employees are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions
and to take informed and well-managed decisions. We will ensure
that we learn from any mistakes. Poor performance or incapability
will be dealt with in a professional and appropriate manner.
Value for Money - We intend to make every penny of
the taxpayers' contribution count. We will work hard to ensure that
our services are lean and efficient and that our partnerships and
grant aid have maximum effect. We aim to improve our formal Use of
Resources inspection rating (including data quality) in the coming
years and we are investing in the management of our assets.
Our Priorities
Affordable and accessible housing - Using the Planning
system to increase developer obligations to build more affordable
units within developments.
Community engagement and communication -
Increasing dialogue with the community through representative
groups.
Community safety - Working with partners to reduce
the fear of crime and improve public safety.
Economic regeneration - Prioritising issues of
town centre management and improvement to ensure that economic
vitality is improved.
Outreach projects for young people - Supporting
opportunities and activities which keep young people safe and
active.
Street scene and environment - Managing the local
environment and safeguarding the future through action against
global warming.
Transport Issues - Lobbying for the dualling of
the A11 north of the Barton Mills roundabout.
Our Strategies and Policies
We also have a range of strategies and policies that provide a
framework to enable us to deliver our services effectively.
For more information on Strategies and Policies, please
contact the Corporate Development Officer
(Policy) at policy@forest-heath.gov.uk
More information is available on
our Council Performance and
Review page.