BATTLEFORD - Battleford Town Council is gearing up to update its Strategic Plan.
At council's recent meeting, they agreed to hire facilitator Christina Birch, for a Strategic Planning Session to review and update council's Strategic Plan.
The cost for the service is $2,500, which will come from the town's reserve funds.
Mayor Ames Leslie said the Strategic Plan is an important document for council and the town.
"We approved to re-do our Strat. Plan," he said after the meeting. "It's been a few years since we've renewed it. Council needs to do that because that Strat. Plan is what gives administration and management their direction on where to take the town. It's council's road map, if you will, and we have some new council members, so maybe it's time that we refresh and we renew our Strategic Plan."
"Without a Strat. Plan, the managers don't know where to take the community," Leslie added. "The Strategic Plan is the road map that council develops for administration to move the community forward. It also is that document, so if a new administrator comes in or new managers come they can easily go to the Strategic Plan, and they can understand what that direction is and where that focus needs to be put. So, it's a very valuable tool within municipal government, and it [the document] makes it very clear for everybody where we are going."
Town Administration recommended hiring Birch to facilitate the Strategic Planning session to update the town's current strategic plan.
"This session will allow for a comprehensive review and update of the town's strategic direction, aligning it both with the OCP [Official Community Plan] and the community's evolving goals," Town CAO Todd Francis said in his report to council. "The investment in this process will contribute to more effective governance and better long-term outcomes for the town."
Todd noted that Birch has extensive experience in strategic planning for municipalities, and has provided a proposal for a strategic planning session "tailored specifically for the Town of Battleford."
The session will include a pre-session preparation with consultation with key stakeholders, and a review of the existing documents, and the development of an agenda.
This will be followed by a five- to six-hour strategic planning session, including a vision and mission alignment, an environmental scan, and strategic direction and goal setting.
Finally, the project then includes "post-session deliverables," which include an updated strategic plan document, encompassing a vision, mission, values, and strategic priorities outlined, as well as a summary report.
"The investment in updating council's Strategic Plan is expected to result in long-term benefits, including better alignment of resources, clearer strategic goals, and more effective decision-making, all of which will ultimately contribute to the town's continued growth and community development," Francis said.
Francis also noted that the proposal from Birch was "very fair," with a cost that was "very reasonable," that's why he brought it forward to council for their consideration.
Council was in favour of the proposal to hire Birch for the strategic planning initiative.
Coun. Judy Pruden said Birch impressed her with her prior presentation and her experience.
"It's always good to have someone diving through that strategic plan," added Pruden.
Leslie agreed.
"Having a third party sometimes takes away the narrow focus...," he said. "I support this. Our strategic plan needs a bit of modernization."
