Local Strategic Partnerships

1
Local Strategic Partnerships The Voluntary
Sector

• Steve Manwaring
• Director
• Hastings Voluntary Action (ESSP Member via
  Speakup)

2
(No Transcript)
3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
(No Transcript)
7
(No Transcript)
8
Why did it all go so very wrong?

• Dislocation between those designing things
  (buildings or services) and those who use them
• Lack of engagement, apathy and low democratic
  participation
• A failure to understand the dynamics of a
  community and what it has to offer
• A tendency to see problems/needs and not
  assets/capacity

9

• Partnership (Cooperation)
• LSPs, Community Strategies, Comprehensive Area
  Assessment (CAA) Participation
  (Co-Governance)Neighbourhood Forums
• Consultative Groups
• Patient Involvement
• Citizens Panels
• Community Networks
• Calls for Action
• Petitions

10
Because

• no one agency can solve complex and long term
  issues on their own
• Resources are tight and getting tighter
• Social capital is only just beginning to be
  understood

11
Growing Legal Endorsement

• New legal duties on the part of service providers
  to engage
• New legal rights for the community to increase
  accountability and ensure community issues are
  firmly on the agenda

12
And Nirvana Looks like
Active citizens who take responsibility and
contribute to the common good Strengthened
communities who work together to find solutions
to common problems Partnership in meeting public
needs with agencies working together and with
communities to renew service and democratic
accountability Home Office Active Communities
Unit Civil Renewal 2003
13
Ladder of Participation
Sherry Arnsteins ladder of participation 1969
14
Partnership the Up Side

• Making one plus one equal more than two sharing
  ideas and resources towards common goals.
• Gaining access to the skills and perspectives of
  others.
• Mutual support to maintain enthusiasm and
  commitment.
• Ability to secure funding that requires
  partnership working.
• Opportunities to reach a wider audience

15
And the Down Side

• Communities are under increasing pressure
• to become involved but have limited
• capacity.
• Consultation itself does not guarantee
• delivery.
• Where does the power really lie and how much do
  Govt really want
• to let go of it?
• Language and processes sometimes get in the way

16
Does it work?

• Local Strategic Partnerships Lessons from the
  New Commitment to RegenerationHelen Russell -
  Joseph Rowntree FoundationYesbut it is a huge
  challenge to traditional ways of working and
  takes time before genuine participation and
  informed debate can take place

17
Does it Work?

• Local Strategic Partnerships, Neighbourhood
  Renewal, and the Limits to Co-governance
• Carole Johnson a Stephen P. OsborneAston
  Business School Yes but there is an unbalanced
  approach to supporting the two crucial aspects.
  Co-ordination is supported strongly through
  funding, target setting and effort, while
  co-governance has only weak funding and
  accreditation processes to ensure its success.
  Greater balance will be needed

18
So what steps can we take to improve things

• Joined up approaches to community engagement and
  information
• Understanding each other and find ways of working
  which assist (Compact)
• View participation and partnership
• Communicate clearly in an inclusive way

19
T.E.A.M.

• Together Everyone Achieves More
  -v-
• Too Expensive and Meaningless

20
What next

• Importance of succession planning
• Withdrawal and sustainability

21
Thanks for Listening and have a good conference