Forward plan

What the forward plan is for

The forward plan gives advance notice of forthcoming strategic or key decisions that are due to be published in advance. It helps the public, members and scrutiny understand significant business expected to come forward.

What an entry contains

An entry identifies the subject of the expected decision, the responsible decision-maker and the anticipated timing, together with the other information required by the Authority's governance arrangements.

From planned business to a decision

Listing an item does not approve it. Evidence, advice and consultation can continue before the responsible decision-maker considers the matter. The final outcome is published separately as a decision.

Changes and urgent business

The plan changes as business develops. Where an urgent decision follows a different governance route, the applicable procedure and the reason for urgency form part of the formal record.

Relationship with meetings and scrutiny

The forward plan helps scrutiny identify forthcoming matters and allows the public to follow significant business from advance notice through supporting papers to the eventual decision.

Keeping the plan current

The published plan reflects the Authority's current expectation of forthcoming business. Timing can change as evidence, consultation, funding or partner dependencies develop, so the plan is updated when the expected decision route or timetable changes materially.