The Strategic Plan is a living document that sets out a clear sense of purpose and direction for the Council. It identifies our priorities for the next 5 years and gives a positive focus to our work.

Working in partnership with others is a real strength of the Council so it is no accident that this plan has common objectives with the Local Strategic Partnership and the Community Strategy.

Caring for our people, supporting our towns and villages and protecting our environment are the core themes that will influence what we do and how we do it.

Our corporate plan brings together the issues and priorities as seen through the eyes and ears of our community leaders and tested against the evidence of community aspirations and concerns drawn from "Suffolk Speaks" and other consultation methods.

Setting out what we want to achieve is one thing; doing it is another. That is why our performance management framework will align this plan with the actions so that we can monitor our progress and ensure that the process of allocating resources is driven by informed priorities.

We are a small Council facing up to big challenges where those who govern and those who manage work harmoniously together; this plan is testimony to that. Being small does not however limit our ambition. Because our style of working is partnership centred, the paths of innovation, enterprise and diversity of delivery have already put the Council at centre stage in our unique technological and public access partnership with Suffolk County Council and BT. We will build on this approach as we carve out more opportunities to provide imaginative solutions to the objectives set out in this plan.

Tim Passmore (Leader of the Council) and Andrew Good (Chief Executive)