Plans outlining ambitions, values and objectives for the year ahead are at the forefront of Derbyshire County Council’s refreshed vision for 2024/2025.

The plan has now been published after it was agreed by the authority’s Full Council meeting.

Key sections of the plan highlight the council’s ambitions and values, the outcomes it seeks to achieve and the strategic approach to be followed which will see the authority working with and for communities and in collaboration with partners. 

The strategic approach is underpinned by three key areas of activity: Enterprising Council, Thriving Communities and Vision Derbyshire. The plan shows how these three areas have placed the council in a stronger position to deliver its ambitions, adapt and respond to challenges and bring about changes needed to ensure future success.

A total of 33 objectives have been identified for delivery over the coming year and all come under one of five key areas which are:

•    Resilient, thriving and green communities which share responsibility for improving their areas and supporting each other
•    Happy, safe and healthy people, with solid networks of support, who feel in control of their personal circumstances and aspirations
•    A strong, diverse and clean economy which makes the most of Derbyshire’s rich assets and provides meaningful opportunities for local people to achieve their full potential
•    Great places to live, work and visit with high performing schools, diverse cultural opportunities, transport connections that keep things moving and a healthy and sustainable environment for all
•    High quality public services that work together alongside communities to deliver services that meet people’s needs.

Over the next year the council will refresh this strategic approach for the next four-year planning period, 2025-2029. This will see the way the authority works with partners evolve to align with the newly formed East Midlands County Combined Authority and ensure Derbyshire residents get the best value from the £1.14 billion regional investment agreed with government as part of the devolution deal. 

The 2024-25 refreshed Council Plan, with a new foreword by county council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis and managing director Emma Alexander, also details the challenges facing the council, from huge budget pressures and the high cost of living to issues around climate change and the work being done to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis said: “One of the most important tasks of our year is to revisit and refresh our Council Plan and ensure it contains strong objectives for the year ahead, as well as highlighting our ambitions and values and the outcomes we will strive to achieve.

“This refreshed plan for 2024-25 will help us to steer a clear path to where we need to be over the course of the next 12 months, while identifying the challenges along the way.

“Rethinking the way we do our planning can be just as important, and as an enterprising council we are always looking to adapt and embrace new ways of thinking, ensuring we continue to deliver value for money for all Derbyshire residents, putting them at the heart of all that we do.”