Business and financial planning processes

Every year, we plan a budget and produce a Delivery Plan for the following year.  This is so we know exactly how we are going to carry out our business, or work, in the year to come. 

We involve many groups in this process so we can be sure we are doing it in the best way.  We involve:

• our tenants and leaseholders
• our staff
• our stakeholders.

We constantly try to improve our planning and make changes to our processes when necessary.  For example, we reviewed the whole process in April and May 2008 and made a number of changes to the ways in which we get information from managers and staff and keep people informed.

What does business and financial planning involve?

During the course of each year, we talk to our customers, stakeholders and staff so we can gather their opinions and suggestions.   Click here to see a a flow chart which shows how the whole process works (pdf).  

Firstly, we ask our managers questions about performance issues, customer service and available budgets.  We then speak to the rest of our staff to get their views and suggestions on the main issues.

At the same time, we speak to our customers to find out what you think about our services.  We do this at events and in focus groups.  Visit Getting Involved to find out about taking part in an event or focus group.

We then use all of the information we have collected to help set our budgets and to produce a draft service plan.  The service plan identifies actions and targets for all teams across YHN.

Once the draft plans are agreed with staff and managers, we give them to Newcastle City Council, the Tenants Federation and our Board members.  This gives our stakeholders the chance to give us their comments.

We also give feedback to tenants who have been involved – this is so they can see how their involvement has made a difference.

The final stage of our planning process is for the Delivery and Service Plans to be formally agreed and adopted by the YHN Board and by Newcastle City Council in March/April.  At this point, we also develop learning and development plans so that staff training fits in with our plans for the next year.

Visit Strategies, Plans and Reports to read our Delivery and Service Plans.