North Northamptonshire Council's blueprint for the future

18 November 2021

A blueprint which will shape the direction of future policy at North Northamptonshire Council was approved by the authority’s Executive this morning.

The council’s first Corporate Plan – a strategy for the next four years and beyond - outlines the values it will commit to as well as six key policy areas:

• Helping people to lead active, fulfilled lives – helping people be more active, independent and fulfilled
• Building better, brighter futures – caring for young people, providing them with a high-quality education and opportunities to help them flourish
• Develop safe and thriving places – enabling a thriving and successful economy that shapes great places to live, learn, work and visit
• Create a green, sustainable environment – taking a lead on improving the green environment, making the area more sustainable for generations to come
• Build connected communities – ensuring communities are connected with one another so they are able to shape their lives and areas where they live
• Develop modern public services – proving efficient, effective and affordable services that make a real difference to all our local communities

North Northamptonshire Council is committed to making the area a better place to live, work and relax.

I strongly believe that by putting residents and local communities at the heart of everything we do, we will be better placed to make the right decisions for North Northamptonshire.

To achieve all of this, we are going to need to be a council that is efficient and effective.

The corporate plan is more than a plan for the future. It is a framework for helping the council make difficult decisions about where to allocate its finite resources.
 
The corporate priorities set out in the plan help define those areas that are most important to the council. They provide clarity of focus on which to help inform future decision-making.

This document is not set in stone, the corporate plan should be seen as a living document which remains a work in progress.

We know our aspirations are high, but we are committed to achieving them. We will strive to make North Northamptonshire a place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life.Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council

Work started on the council’s vision back in 2020. A series of focus groups were held with key stakeholders including residents, schools, businesses, customers, town and parish councils and key partner organisations. The result was a draft vision which, as a new council, has been further refined.

A public consultation was carried out in September 2021. This sought views on the new vision, along with a proposed set of values, key commitments and priorities for North Northamptonshire.

Over 600 people responded to the public consultation, the results of which showed that over 80% of consultees agreed with the council’s proposed vision for North Northamptonshire. 

Now approved, the corporate plan will need to be formally adopted by Full Council.