2021-06-30 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                 30 JUNE 2021


What has improved from our previous version of the Operational Plan?

There are 5 major areas of improvement in our Operational Plan format. They are:

    Better linkage to the existing Corporate Plan. While the previous version of the Operational
     Plan was set out based on the 5 themes of the Corporate Plan, all of the key focus areas in
     the Corporate Plan were not referenced. This has been remedied with all key focus areas in
     the Corporate Plan now included in the Operational Plan. This creates a better link between
     the two documents.

    Identification of operational initiatives for key focus areas. Again, the new version of the
     Operational Plan seeks to identify specific initiatives that are being undertaken to progress
     Corporate Plan key focus areas. In other words, for each Corporate Plan key focus area, there
     is an operational initiative that seeks to make progress on the issue.

    Outcomes sought. For each key focus area/operational initiative, the desired outcome is also
     identified where possible. This gives the reader an understanding of what we are trying to
     achieve by taking these actions.

    Identified organisational responsibility. Further, for each key focus area/operational initiative,
     the relevant part of the organisation or key staff position is identified as having organisational
     responsibility for delivering that outcome. This makes it much clearer than our current
     Operational Plan format as to who is responsible for achieving what is intended.

    Linkage to “business as usual” services. Our current Operational Plan doesn’t recognise day-
     to-day Council services as contributing towards our longer term goals. This means that some
     staff cannot see where they “fit in” to achieving our longer term goals. This has been remedied
     by including relevant Council services (drawn from our service level catalogue) into each of
     the 5 Corporate Plan theme areas.

We still aim to have a more relevant Operational Plan format by not listing every single project and
activity which would make the operational plan into such a large document that it loses relevance.
Quarterly reports to Council on the Operational Plan allow Council to focus on progress with the
significant projects. Other activities are also reported to Council on a quarterly basis by Council’s
Directors with their departmental updates.

It is anticipated that this format will continue to be developed in the coming years to refine and
improve it. Nevertheless, it is a significant step forward from our current approach in terms of
integration to our Corporate Plan.

Council should also note that it is possible for an Operational Plan to be amended at any time
throughout the financial year.

1    Operational Plan 2021-22 (see Attachment 1)
The Operational Plan has been based on our current Corporate Plan using the five themes we have
adopted as a way of categorising our projects.




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