© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council Strategic Vision Vision for Town Vision for Town Targets for 2015 Targets for 2015 Town Council Role Town Council Role What do we want the electorate to say about us? What do we want the electorate to say about us? What is our Scope? What is our Scope? What are our values? What are our values?

© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council What is our Scope? What do we want the electorate to say about the Council? eg What do we want the electorate to say about the Council? eg The Town council is our council, the Town Council are truly representative of the people of the town The Town council is our council, the Town Council are truly representative of the people of the town It doesn’t matter, they don’t really care It doesn’t matter, they don’t really care ‘Great Allotments and Cemetery’ ‘Great Allotments and Cemetery’ What are our vision and values in respect of engagement in areas which are wholly or principally the responsibility of another authority (eg planning beyond our role as a statutory consultee) eg What are our vision and values in respect of engagement in areas which are wholly or principally the responsibility of another authority (eg planning beyond our role as a statutory consultee) eg Other than through our role as statutory consultee, we will neither challenge nor assist in challenging the decisions of another democratically elected authority Other than through our role as statutory consultee, we will neither challenge nor assist in challenging the decisions of another democratically elected authority Where we have tangible evidence of a democratic mandate we will, on selected major issues, challenge other democratically elected authorities Where we have tangible evidence of a democratic mandate we will, on selected major issues, challenge other democratically elected authorities We will campaign actively on major issues, even if it means going head to head with another authority, where we believe our view is in the interests of the people of Bishop’s Stortford. We will campaign actively on major issues, even if it means going head to head with another authority, where we believe our view is in the interests of the people of Bishop’s Stortford. Engagement in areas which are not wholly or principally the responsibility of any one authority (eg business development, enhancement of amenities) Engagement in areas which are not wholly or principally the responsibility of any one authority (eg business development, enhancement of amenities) We will not engage in areas outside our principal responsibilities We will not engage in areas outside our principal responsibilities We will engage only in areas defined in our strategic plan which we will review annually We will engage only in areas defined in our strategic plan which we will review annually We believe that we ‘own’ the health and wellbeing of Bishop’s Stortford and will actively seek to facilitate developments or change which supports this, unless it is clearly the accountability of another authority We believe that we ‘own’ the health and wellbeing of Bishop’s Stortford and will actively seek to facilitate developments or change which supports this, unless it is clearly the accountability of another authority

© Bishop’s Stortford Town Council What are our values? What are the key principles or values which will guide the organisation and implementation of the strategic priorities eg What are the key principles or values which will guide the organisation and implementation of the strategic priorities eg Beyond our statutory responsibilities, we will only take on other activities in cases of extreme and critical failure or if they make money Beyond our statutory responsibilities, we will only take on other activities in cases of extreme and critical failure or if they make money We will take on additional services only if We will take on additional services only if They make money or (or and?) They make money or (or and?) We believe we can deliver a significant improvement in quality or democratic legitimacy of decision making in at a reasonable price in a service which is important and visible to the public We believe we can deliver a significant improvement in quality or democratic legitimacy of decision making in at a reasonable price in a service which is important and visible to the public We will actively seek to expand our influence across multiple services or functions because we believe we truly represent the people of the Town We will actively seek to expand our influence across multiple services or functions because we believe we truly represent the people of the Town What are the key principles or values which will guide the organisation and implementation of the core services eg What are the key principles or values which will guide the organisation and implementation of the core services eg we aim to provide a basic service at a minimum price (Lidl) we aim to provide a basic service at a minimum price (Lidl) We aim to deliver value for money whilst providing a service of the highest quality (Waitrose) We aim to deliver value for money whilst providing a service of the highest quality (Waitrose) We aim to deliver a ‘middle of the road’ service at highly competitive price (Tesco, Sainsburys) We aim to deliver a ‘middle of the road’ service at highly competitive price (Tesco, Sainsburys) What financial constraints will we impose eg What financial constraints will we impose eg Reducing the budget and precept is a prime aim. Wherever possible we will do so through efficiencies to protect core services but will if necessary cut services and pare back projects to maintain a year on year reduction throughout this council Reducing the budget and precept is a prime aim. Wherever possible we will do so through efficiencies to protect core services but will if necessary cut services and pare back projects to maintain a year on year reduction throughout this council We believe that reducing the precept is desirable. Wherever possible we will do so but will not sacrifice the quality or provision of core services. We believe that reducing the precept is desirable. Wherever possible we will do so but will not sacrifice the quality or provision of core services. We will endeavour to maintain a flat precept throughout the term of this council and will adjust projects and services accordingly We will endeavour to maintain a flat precept throughout the term of this council and will adjust projects and services accordingly Whilst we do not seek to increase the precept unnecessarily, we believe that this Council’s contribution to the overall Tax bill is small and that we best serve the people by investing in the strategic projects and services we have identified even if this requires a modest increase in precept Whilst we do not seek to increase the precept unnecessarily, we believe that this Council’s contribution to the overall Tax bill is small and that we best serve the people by investing in the strategic projects and services we have identified even if this requires a modest increase in precept