Foreword
Welcome to the Clare Local Authorities Corporate Plan 2004 - 2009.
In publishing this Plan we hope to present a clear picture of our future plans as well as giving an insight into the strategies being pursued for the betterment of the county and improvement of service delivery.
In 1997 we adopted the principles of the Strategic Management Initiative. We undertook a detailed review of our operations and identified the changes necessary to ensure that Local Government continued to be relevant, meaningful and a key catalyst for the betterment of the community.
In 2001 we adopted the Corporate Plan which covered the years 2001 to 2004. This Plan which incorporated a Customer Action Plan was a follow on to the Strategic Management Plan. It is pleasing to record considerable progress in achieving many of the key aims of that plan.
In publishing this Corporate Plan we seek to produce a clear written statement on what objectives our five Local Authorities aim to achieve over the period of the plan, the supporting strategies adopted to achieve these aims and the mechanisms for implementing, monitoring, review and adjustment.
This Plan has been prepared and adopted following widespread consultation with all our stakeholders. The consultative process involved the holding of over 30 workshops. The contributions made by all those who participated through the submission of views and comments is acknowledged and appreciated.
The publication of the Plan represents the completion of the first step in a process. The next phase will include the production and implementation of individual Operational Plans through which the Corporate Plan can be implemented. The Corporate Plan is comprehensive and broad ranging. Its objectives, while ambitious, are being actively pursued and as progress is achieved new areas will be identified where further improvements can be made. Each year a report will be produced detailing the progress made in the implementation of the plan.
We are anxious to ensure that the Corporate Plan is seen as a living document capable of change in response to customer needs and changing priorities. We welcome the submission of comments on the contents of the Plan and our actual performance against the objectives agreed.