Grey County has a road map to 2027 with the adoption of a new strategic plan.
Councillors approved the plan at their March 28th meeting.
County Warden Brian Milne says in a statement, “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.”
He adds, “By focusing on these priorities, we can make the greatest impact in our communities.”
The strategic plan is called ‘Working Together for Success,’ and emphasizes collaboration between Grey County municipalities.
A release from the County says the plan draws on various studies, strategies and reports from recent years.
The County delivers services to more than 100,000 full-time residents, 12,000 businesses and 3 million visitors each year.
County services include social housing, childcare, Ontario Works administration, paramedic services, three public long-term care homes, county roads, land use planning, and Provincial Offences court.
It also supports regional economic development and tourism and runs the Grey Roots Museum and Archives.
CAO Kim Wingrove says in a statement, “When there are a number of competing needs and challenges it’s important to prioritize effort and investments.” She adds, “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 plan has four priority areas:
The first is improvement in operational efficiency and service delivery by containing spending and improving service.
Its second priority area is building ‘future ready’ infrastructure, programs and services.
The third priority area is internal workforce development and addressing a labour shortage.
The final priority is improving access to housing for all residents of Grey County.
Annual strategic plan reports will be presented to Grey County Council, as well as quarterly updates at the CAO Performance Evaluation Committee.
