Grey County now has a road map until 2027 with the adoption of a new strategic plan.
The Working Together for Success plan is based on Grey County's premise that residents benefit from collaborative and coordinated municipal services. The strategy, which was approved by County Council on March 28, is based on research, initiatives, and reports from recent years.
According to a media release, Grey County council envision "a county in which people feel truly at home and naturally inspired, while also enjoying healthy active life and economic opportunities." The county reported that coordinated, cost-effective, and responsive services improve the community's economic, social, environmental, and cultural well-being.
“The strategic plan is a tool Grey County Council and the senior management team will use to stay focused on the things that matter most to our residents: effective management, stewardship of public assets, building for the future and addressing the housing crisis,” said Grey County Warden Brian Milne. “By focusing on these priorities, we can make the greatest impact in our communities.”
Grey County intends to focus on four key areas in the next years. The main focus area is to continuously improve operational efficiency and service delivery. The goal is to reduce spending while improving service access and quality through innovation.
“When there are a number of competing needs and challenges it’s important to prioritize effort and investments,” said CAO Kim Wingrove. “All of these needs are important, but every issue can’t be a priority. By working through the strategic planning process, Council has identified key areas to focus in for the next four years.”
The second major area of the strategy is to create future-ready and sustainable infrastructure, programs, and services for local communities.
The third key area is internal workforce development, with a particular emphasis on municipal personnel recruiting, retention, and skill development. Grey County hopes to address a labour shortage by developing the skills and experience of existing staff to meet current and future needs.
The final priority of the strategy is improving access to housing for all residents of Grey County now and in the future.
“Grey County is committed to the priorities and goals identified in the strategy. These will form the basis of our work planning and budgeting and will be incorporated into performance plans to ensure accountability to Council and the community,” said Wingrove.
Quarterly updates will be provided during the CAO Performance Evaluation Committee and annual strategic plan reports will be presented to Grey County Council.
More details about Working Together for Success, the 2024-2027 Corporate Strategic Plan, can be found on the Grey County website at www.grey.ca/strategic-plan.
