Agenda item 4 - MTFS (Final) Cab 070213 , item 9. PDF 1 MB

• Providing the basics – In the coming years we will have less money and will have to
make sure we spend it where the need is greatest. Our role is to make sure local
people get good outcomes for their services and we understand that it is the quality of
the service that matters to local people, not who provides it.
• Helping communities help themselves – The Council is at its most effective when it is
helping people to live successful lives as independently as possible and helping
communities to help themselves. We believe that if you give power to local people you
get better results and achieve better value.
We believe that the vision and values remain the right ones to help us to meet the challenges
of the next few years.
32 We also set out our strategy and key commitments in relation to four priority areas:
• Getting our own house in order – Every pound spent on running the Council is a
pound that is not spent on front-line services. There is a cost associated with running
any organisation, but we will continue to minimise and reduce that cost. We will do
everything we can to be as efficient as possible, reduce the Council’s running costs and
get the best value from our assets.
• Protecting Vulnerable People – Protecting vulnerable children, young people and
adults is one of our most important areas of work. It accounts for a large proportion of
our budget and we know from the ‘Let’s Talk’ conversation that local people support our
view that this should be a top priority for the Council.
• Supporting Active Communities – We want to help communities to do more
themselves and give them more control over local services like schools, libraries and
youth centres.
• We know that Gloucestershire’s army of volunteers already make a huge difference to
thousands of people’s everyday lives in their neighbourhoods, towns and villages. We
want to work more closely with Gloucestershire’s voluntary and community sector to
stimulate innovation and encourage communities to step forward and take on new roles
in providing local services and solutions.
• Building a Sustainable County – the Council is responsible for planning and
delivering much of the infrastructure that keeps the county working and moving. The
financial challenges mean that we need to find significant savings, but we are
committed to doing this in a way that avoids creating problems for future generations.
Following feedback from local people in last year’s budget consultation we will have a
particular focus on supporting initiatives that stimulate economic growth and create jobs
in Gloucestershire.
The refreshed strategy accompanies this MTFS for endorsement by Cabinet, and is presented
to Council for adoption alongside the MTFS and budget proposals.
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