Corporate Plan 2004-2008 - Developing The Organisation

We will consistently focus on delivering the corporate plan by following an annual performance plan which will:

• set out the necessary actions and outcomes for the coming year;
• be reviewed each year; and
• contribute to the annual performance report which we will publish by 30 September each year.

Our performance management framework helps us to balance government requirements we must meet while providing services that meet local needs. Performance management is vital for this plan to be successful.

Our aims are as follows.

• To develop and support our workforce
• To maintain effective financial planning and management arrangements
• To make the best use of the property we own
• To achieve continuous improvement
• To develop our role to lead the community

Our intended outcomes are as follows.

• To have a committed, effective and planned workforce.
• To deliver our priorities within budget.
• For information and feedback on our performance to confirm that our frontline services have improved.
• For all our assets to be fit for their purpose, and be used effectively and efficiently.
• To have a record of improvements achieved over the period of this plan.
• For the results of our best value audit (where auditors examine our services) to be among the best in Scotland.
• To continue our positive work with (and on behalf of) local communities and have evidence of our achievement from various sources.

Aim 1 – To develop and support our workforce
Actions we will take

1. Fully introduce the Job Evaluation scheme by April 2004.
2. Achieve 'single status' by making the conditions of service of all administrative, professional, technical and clerical staff consistent. We will also make the conditions of manual workers consistent.
3. Develop our workforce to improve services and achieve Investors in People status for all services.
4. Review practices and procedures to meet our priorities, introduce annual workforce planning to match staff and their skills to our needs for the coming year, and reduce temporary contracts by 25% by 2008.
5. Achieve a culture change by giving the workforce appropriate authority, raising motivation and improving performance.

Aim 2 – To maintain effective financial planning and management arrangements
Actions we will take

1. Continue to develop financial plans covering three years, and produce the next plan during 2005 for the period to March 2008.
2. Develop planning arrangements for spending on assets to meet local needs and support the priorities in this plan, and make the most of opportunities provided through our new borrowing powers.
3. Introduce new financial solutions to support our objectives and increase the funding we receive from outside sources by 10% each year (depending on future European funding decisions).

Aim 3 – To make the best use of the property we own
Actions we will take

1. Upgrade our Asset Management strategy, and keep to the principles of sustainable development (that is, development that can be maintained without using up our natural resources or damaging the environment).
2. Complete our prioritised major repair and improvement programme by 31 March 2005.
3. Target £23.9 million to upgrade and repair our business property.
4. Develop more flexible working arrangements and introduce working from home by 31 March 2005.

Aim 4 – To achieve continuous improvement
Actions we will take

1. Carry out yearly reviews of our service standards, performance targets and costs through Service Improvement Plans, and introduce 'option appraisal' in best value reviews to find the most cost-effective and efficient way to deliver services.
2. Follow our code of corporate governance, (the code under which we manage our services) and review 10% of these arrangements each year.
3. Make sure our arrangements for risk management are fully in force by April 2005.
4. Complete the business review programme to make sure the customer contact centre is fully up and running by 30 September 2005.
5. Introduce a corporate ICT (information and communication technology) strategy, and deliver all appropriate services electronically by 31 December 2005.
6. Try to gain Charter Marks for all appropriate frontline services, with 80% having a Charter Mark by 31 March 2008.
7. Make arrangements for services to meet sustainability criteria by April 2006.

Aim 5 – To develop our role to lead the community
Actions we will take

1. Lead the way in introducing the Community Plan and introduce local community planning by 31 March 2006.
2. Introduce the Community Regeneration Strategy (with community planning partners) by 2008, and consider issues relating to sustainability such as the changing climate, transport and pollution.
3. Continue to make sure issues of concern in North Lanarkshire influence European, UK and Scottish Executive policies.
4. Review our political management structures to take account of anticipated legal changes by no later than 31 March 2006.
5. Carry out a further residents' survey and report the results by 30 September 2006.