EDDC Corporate Plan will guide improved delivery

East Devon District Council has a new Council Plan, which together with its Transformation Strategy, sets out how it aims to improve its service delivery by working towards four priorities that will ensure East Devon continues to be an outstanding place to live, work, visit and enjoy.

Each part of the Plan, which covers the period 2016-2020, has a role to play in a joined-up approach that will provide better service delivery.

However, the priorities also focus on how the council will ensure successful end results across all its responsibilities, such as housing, planning, the local economy, health and wellbeing and sustainable, independent communities.

All the best councils have strong partnership arrangements and East Devon will continue to work closely with Devon’s county, city and district councils, police and fire authorities, Exeter University, the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, as well as local businesses, voluntary and community groups and town and parish councils.

East Devon is committed to a more transparent way of working and will continue to carry out consultations on major projects and changes to service delivery. The council values the feedback it receives from its residents on its performance and how this can be improved.

The four priorities:
• Priority One – Encouraging communities to be outstanding
• Priority Two – Developing an outstanding local economy
• Priority Three – Delivering and promoting our outstanding environment
• Priority Four – Continuously improving to be an outstanding council

Commenting on the new Council Plan, East Devon District Council’s Leader, Councillor Paul Diviani, said:

“Local authorities are facing some of the toughest challenges ever, with increasing pressure being brought to bear on us by central Government in the form of further financial cutbacks. However, we as a council, will manage any reductions proactively, by grasping these challenges and turning them into opportunities, by thinking creatively and strategically, by evolving our operational processes, by working in smart and innovative ways and by harnessing the right technology.

“I have every confidence in our ability to serve the people of East Devon. Not least the part that our staff will play – I know that every person who works for East Devon is 100% committed to providing a first class service. Everyone, from our community development officers to our planning teams work with passion and integrity to ensure that every stakeholder they deal with, receives the quality of care they deserve. This is demonstrated by the fact that we have successfully retained our Gold Investor in People status. This is an accolade to be extremely proud of and shows that we are going above and beyond to ensure our organisation succeeds.

“Our new Council Plan will help take us forward. It will enable us to be more commercially aware so we can develop a thriving local economy, which in turn will attract inward investment. We will encourage communities to become more sustainable through policies such as neighbourhood plans and support them in their health and wellbeing with a wide variety of cultural and leisure activities, and access to our outstanding countryside.

“While there is much to be proud of in terms of our achievements to date, we are looking forward to seeing our new improved ways of working – including our relocation to Honiton and Exmouth - transform the lives and prosperity of our communities. Make no mistake, we will be leaner, fitter and better.”