© Bishop’s Stortford Town © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Council

Strategic VisionStrategic Vision

Vision for TownVision for Town Targets for 2015Targets for 2015 Town Council RoleTown Council Role What do we want the electorate to say What do we want the electorate to say

about us?about us? What is our Scope?What is our Scope? What are our values?What are our values?

© Bishop’s Stortford Town © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Council

What is our Scope?What is our Scope?

What do we want the electorate to say about the Council? egWhat do we want the electorate to say about the Council? eg The Town council is our council, the Town Council are truly representative of the The Town council is our council, the Town Council are truly representative of the

people of the townpeople of the town It doesn’t matter, they don’t really careIt doesn’t matter, they don’t really care ‘‘Great Allotments and Cemetery’Great Allotments and Cemetery’

What are our vision and values in respect of engagement in areas which are What are our vision and values in respect of engagement in areas which are wholly or principally the responsibility of another authority (eg planning beyond wholly or principally the responsibility of another authority (eg planning beyond our role as a statutory consultee) egour role as a statutory consultee) eg

Other than through our role as statutory consultee, we will neither challenge nor Other than through our role as statutory consultee, we will neither challenge nor assist in challenging the decisions of another democratically elected authorityassist in challenging the decisions of another democratically elected authority

Where we have tangible evidence of a democratic mandate we will, on selected major Where we have tangible evidence of a democratic mandate we will, on selected major issues, challenge other democratically elected authoritiesissues, challenge other democratically elected authorities

We will campaign actively on major issues, even if it means going head to head with We will campaign actively on major issues, even if it means going head to head with another authority, where we believe our view is in the interests of the people of another authority, where we believe our view is in the interests of the people of Bishop’s Stortford.Bishop’s Stortford.

Engagement in areas which are not wholly or principally the responsibility of Engagement in areas which are not wholly or principally the responsibility of any one authority (eg business development, enhancement of amenities)any one authority (eg business development, enhancement of amenities)

We will not engage in areas outside our principal responsibilitiesWe will not engage in areas outside our principal responsibilities We will engage only in areas defined in our strategic plan which we will review We will engage only in areas defined in our strategic plan which we will review

annuallyannually We believe that we ‘own’ the health and wellbeing of Bishop’s Stortford and will We believe that we ‘own’ the health and wellbeing of Bishop’s Stortford and will

actively seek to facilitate developments or change which supports this, unless it is actively seek to facilitate developments or change which supports this, unless it is clearly the accountability of another authorityclearly the accountability of another authority

© Bishop’s Stortford Town © Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Council

What are our values?What are our values? What are the key principles or values which will guide the organisation and What are the key principles or values which will guide the organisation and

implementation of the strategic priorities egimplementation of the strategic priorities eg Beyond our statutory responsibilities, we will only take on other activities in cases of extreme and Beyond our statutory responsibilities, we will only take on other activities in cases of extreme and

critical failure or if they make moneycritical failure or if they make money We will take on additional services only ifWe will take on additional services only if

They make money or (or and?)They make money or (or and?) We believe we can deliver a significant improvement in quality or democratic legitimacy of decision making in at We believe we can deliver a significant improvement in quality or democratic legitimacy of decision making in at

a reasonable price in a service which is important and visible to the publica reasonable price in a service which is important and visible to the public We will actively seek to expand our influence across multiple services or functions because we We will actively seek to expand our influence across multiple services or functions because we

believe we truly represent the people of the Townbelieve we truly represent the people of the Town

What are the key principles or values which will guide the organisation and What are the key principles or values which will guide the organisation and implementation of the core services egimplementation of the core services eg

we aim to provide a basic service at a minimum price (Lidl)we aim to provide a basic service at a minimum price (Lidl) We aim to deliver value for money whilst providing a service of the highest quality (Waitrose)We aim to deliver value for money whilst providing a service of the highest quality (Waitrose) We aim to deliver a ‘middle of the road’ service at highly competitive price (Tesco, Sainsburys)We aim to deliver a ‘middle of the road’ service at highly competitive price (Tesco, Sainsburys)

What financial constraints will we impose egWhat financial constraints will we impose eg Reducing the budget and precept is a prime aim. Wherever possible we will do so through Reducing the budget and precept is a prime aim. Wherever possible we will do so through

efficiencies to protect core services but will if necessary cut services and pare back projects to efficiencies to protect core services but will if necessary cut services and pare back projects to maintain a year on year reduction throughout this councilmaintain a year on year reduction throughout this council

We believe that reducing the precept is desirable. Wherever possible we will do so but will not We believe that reducing the precept is desirable. Wherever possible we will do so but will not sacrifice the quality or provision of core services.sacrifice the quality or provision of core services.

We will endeavour to maintain a flat precept throughout the term of this council and will adjust We will endeavour to maintain a flat precept throughout the term of this council and will adjust projects and services accordinglyprojects and services accordingly

Whilst we do not seek to increase the precept unnecessarily, we believe that this Council’s Whilst we do not seek to increase the precept unnecessarily, we believe that this Council’s contribution to the overall Tax bill is small and that we best serve the people by investing in the contribution to the overall Tax bill is small and that we best serve the people by investing in the strategic projects and services we have identified even if this requires a modest increase in strategic projects and services we have identified even if this requires a modest increase in preceptprecept