Developing a strategy – for success or survival?

Fiona Narburgh – Head of Strategy & Communications

What people say about strategy…

“Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there." John Kotter

“A strategy delineates a territory in which a company seeks to be unique” Michael Porter

“Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy” Rudy Guiliani

What people say about strategy…

“The real challenge is crafting strategy lies in detecting subtle discontinuities that may undermine a business in the future. And for that there is no technique, no programme, just a sharp mind in touch with the situation” Henry Mintzberg

“A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all” Micheal LeBoeuf

What people say about strategy…

“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results” Sir Winston Churchill

“In real life, strategy is actually very straightforward. You pick a general direction and implement like hell” Jack Welch

What makes some councils better than others? …

“Clear goals, well communicated and shared…and a genuine sense of passion for their authority and

their area…

…In the next few years our passion and enthusiasm will distinguish the successful from the losers”

Ben Page, CE, Ipsos Mori

What Dilbert’s boss says about strategy…

So what do others do?

1970: We will destroy YamahaCurrent: To be a company thatour shareholders, customers and society want

1960s: Crush AdidasCurrent: To be the number one athletic company in the world

the earth’s favourite little food company

To deliver excellent services and make life better for everyone

So what do others do?

The Trainline.com

  

Developing our strategy

Four essential strategy ingredients

1. Local needs

2. Local perceptions

3. National priorities – the things the Government wants us to deliver

4. Councillors’ priorities

1. What are the local needs?

• Shortage of affordable housing – average cost of a house is six time the average household income

• Highest number of housing register applicants in housing need in Worcestershire (2,264)

• Small pockets of deprivation

• Increasing ageing population• 10% working age people claiming key out of work

benefits

• Health inequalities

• High proportion of overweight and obese children

2. What are residents’ perceptions?

Most important in making an area a good place to live

Most needs improving

Level of crime Road and pavement repairs

Health services Activities for teenagers

Clean streets Job prospects

Education provision Public transport

Affordable decent housing Affordable decent housing

Source: Worcestershire Viewpoint 2010

Resident satisfaction levels

• Satisfaction generally up on 2009 survey• 63% satisfaction with the way we run the council• 55% think we provide value for money up 11point• Keeping land clear of litter = 70%: up 11 points• Refuse collection = 86%: up 3 points • Sports/leisure facilities = 65%: up 6 points• Local transport info = 44%: up 9 points

Source: Worcestershire Viewpoint, November 2010

Do we want to follow Valley Council?

• All their councillors went out to find out what residents’ priorities were - face to face surveys in their communities

A role for members here?

3. What does Government expect of us?

• Get on with it - deliver basic services well

• Keep costs down – council tax affordable

• Drive out efficiency and waste

• Work with partners to give seamless service and cut costs

• Deliver localism and facilitate the Big Society

4. What are your priorities?

Most important Successful: Delivering excellent and value for money services

Stronger: Vibrant and inclusive communities with a strong economy

Healthier: Improving health and well-being

Greener: A better environment – for today and tomorrow

Least important Safer: Communities that are safe and feel safe

Source 28 returned surveys

Top and bottom five goals

1 To support local business and village service

2 To provide high performing services that meet customers needs

3 To increase the availability of affordable, decent housing

4 To increase efficiency and access to services

5 To balance new development with protecting the district’s natural and built environment

13 To aid recovery from flooding and reduce the impact of future flood

14 To reduce crime and fear of crime

15 To reduce health inequalities in Wychavon

16 To increase leisure and cultural activities

17 To contribute to reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes.

You said our best services are…

art (1) car parking (1) communicate availability of services (1) council tax efficiencies (1) customer service (1) democratic services (1)

economic development (1) events and (1) events (1) frontline customer service (1) housing (1) land charges (1)

leisure centres (1) leisure (1) low council tax (1)

market town management (1) parks (5) planning (2)

reducing crime (1) regeneration (1) section 106 (1) shops (1) sport (2) toilets (1) tourism (2) volunteer centre (1)

waste collection (13)

You said we spend too much on …

back office functions (2) chairman of the council (1)

climate change (1) community safety (1) development control (1) events (1)

fewer councillors (1) lido (1) food waste collection (2) free bulky waste (1) licensing (1) none (2)

not getting it right first time (1) shops (1) support services (1)

the wychavon magazine (2) time to process householder applications (1) toilets (1) traffic wardens (1) work better with LSP and councils (1) youth services (1) youth zone (1)

You said we should spend more on …

better not busier (1) businesses (1) community safety (1) dead roadside animals (1) DFG (1)

facilitate communities to help themselves (1) fly-tipping (1)

intelligently green (2) leisure (1) litter (1)

more gypsy sites (1) new homes (3) new jobs (1)

none (3) occupancy of affordable housing (1) planning (1)

prepare for increase in older people (1) recycling for charities (1)

reducing inequalities (1) support services (1) supporting the economy (1)

web services (2) youth services (3)

You said we could also run ….

advertise private rentals online (1) back office functions (1) car parking management (1) conveyance (1) county planning (1)

debt recovery (1) environmental health (1) facilities management (1) flood prevention (1) flooding (1) funerals (1) ground maintenance (1) libraries (1) none (1) nothing (1) parking enforcement (1) payroll (1)

pooling monies for community (1) printing (1) property (1) provide energy performance certificates (1) recycling (1)

school support services (1) street cleaning (1) take over mhdc services (1)

toilets (1) waste collection (1) worcester waste collection (1)

youth services (4)

You said we could devolve/outsource…

affordable housing downsizing (1) anything (2) art (2) car (1)

collection council tax fraudsters (1) events (1) grass cutting (2) housing (2) LSPs (1) maintenance of suds (1) nothing (1)

parish councils (1) parks (2) planning (1) printing (1) public toilets (1)

regulatory services (1) revs bens (1) selective planning agreements (1)

sports (3) tourism (1) town (1)

youth services (3)

What sums up the Wychavon brand…

sharing (1) affordable (1) ahead (1) ambitious (1) evolving (1)

anonymous (1) approachable (2) business-like (2) commitment (1) decisive (1) efficient (3) enthusiastic (1) fair (1)

open (1) service (1) entrepreneurial (1) successful (1) excellence (2)

forward-looking (1) forward-thinking (2) friendly (4) fun (1) lean (1) game (1) helpful (2) improving (1) inclusive (1)

innovative (3) integrity (1) interested (1) intransigent (1) involvement (1) learning (1) listening (1) managed (1) timely (1) positive (1)

professional (1) progress (2) quality (4) resilient (1)

responsive (1) understanding (1) VfM (8)

more affordable housing (8) adopted development plan (2) allocated employment land (1)

safer (1) appropriate level of staff (1) better safer play (1) parks (1) financial stability (1) better youth provision (1) low carbon footprint (1)

extra toilets (1) ongoing balanced revenue (1) business friendly (2) greener sustainable future (1) efficient services (1)

catalyst for improvement (1) large scale employers in to district (1) retain and improve existing services (1) make wychavon great place to live (1)

volunteer drivers for rural areas (1)

good roads (2) stronger economy (2) healthier (3) vibrant town centres (2) stronger communities (3)

efficient waste service (2) low council tax (3)

more channel shift (5) more jobs (7)

If we could only achieve three things …

Workshop tasks

• What are the challenges?

• What are the top three issues for us?

• What one thing would make life better

for residents – to feedback to everyone at the end.