Local Strategic Partnership
Encyclopedia
Local strategic partnerships (LSPs) exist in nearly all local authority areas in England
. They bring together representatives from the local statutory, voluntary, community and private sectors to address local problems, allocate funding, discuss strategies and initiatives. They aim to encourage joint working and community involvement, and prevent 'silo working' (i.e., different agencies that share aims working in isolation) with the general aim of ensuring resources are better allocated at a local level. In Scotland
, equivalent partnerships are called Community Planning Partnerships and in Wales
Local Service Boards.
The structure of an LSP is flexible to a large degree, and is decided at the local level. This has resulted in a diverse collection of partnerships across the country, both in terms of who is represented and how they work. Differences in structure and process influence the effectiveness of each partnership. Equally important are local political history, and the relationships between the different organisations and sectors involved.
The first LSPs were set up around 2000. For 88 local authority areas in England (the most deprived according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation
) that received Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister – now the Department for Communities and Local Government
– formation of an LSP was made a condition of receiving funding. In line with this source of funding, the work of most LSPs has tended to focus on 'regeneration and renewal'.
Involvement of the community is a key aspect of the government's vision of local strategic partnerships. Initially (with neighbourhood renewal funding) this was in the form of a community empowerment network
(CEN). Again the structure of the CEN is very much left up to the local voluntary and community sector. Often an umbrella body, for example a Council for Voluntary Service
, will take on the role of co-ordinating the networks. Since dedicated funding for CENs ended around 50% of them have ceased to exist.
LSPs are an evolving partnership. Recently, they have been coming to grips with local area agreements - where money, and decision making power, is taken from various traditional local bodies, (for example, the primary care trust, local authority etc.) and given instead to the partnership.
Despite their potential impact on local governance
and the implications this could have on the local democratic process (see this study by John Gaventa), LSPs have suffered from a low profile outside (and even inside) those organisations and bodies that are involved. Some find this surprising. Others point out that it may be indicative of their lack of importance at a local level.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They bring together representatives from the local statutory, voluntary, community and private sectors to address local problems, allocate funding, discuss strategies and initiatives. They aim to encourage joint working and community involvement, and prevent 'silo working' (i.e., different agencies that share aims working in isolation) with the general aim of ensuring resources are better allocated at a local level. In Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, equivalent partnerships are called Community Planning Partnerships and in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Local Service Boards.
The structure of an LSP is flexible to a large degree, and is decided at the local level. This has resulted in a diverse collection of partnerships across the country, both in terms of who is represented and how they work. Differences in structure and process influence the effectiveness of each partnership. Equally important are local political history, and the relationships between the different organisations and sectors involved.
The first LSPs were set up around 2000. For 88 local authority areas in England (the most deprived according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation
Index of Multiple Deprivation
The Indices of deprivation 2004 is a Deprivation index at the small area level, created by the British Department for Communities and Local Government....
) that received Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
Neighbourhood Renewal Fund is a form of Local Government finance in England, launched by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in July 2000....
funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister – now the Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Communities and Local Government
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England. It was established in May 2006 and is the successor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, established in 2001...
– formation of an LSP was made a condition of receiving funding. In line with this source of funding, the work of most LSPs has tended to focus on 'regeneration and renewal'.
Involvement of the community is a key aspect of the government's vision of local strategic partnerships. Initially (with neighbourhood renewal funding) this was in the form of a community empowerment network
Community empowerment network
In the United Kingdom, community empowerment networks are networks of a collection of local community, voluntary and third sector organisations and groups, set up by the central government as part of an initiative to foster community involvement in regeneration at a local level. They get together...
(CEN). Again the structure of the CEN is very much left up to the local voluntary and community sector. Often an umbrella body, for example a Council for Voluntary Service
Council for Voluntary Service
A Council for Voluntary Service is a type of charity in England. CVSs are "the place at which local voluntary and community organisations speak to each other"...
, will take on the role of co-ordinating the networks. Since dedicated funding for CENs ended around 50% of them have ceased to exist.
LSPs are an evolving partnership. Recently, they have been coming to grips with local area agreements - where money, and decision making power, is taken from various traditional local bodies, (for example, the primary care trust, local authority etc.) and given instead to the partnership.
Despite their potential impact on local governance
Governance
Governance is the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes...
and the implications this could have on the local democratic process (see this study by John Gaventa), LSPs have suffered from a low profile outside (and even inside) those organisations and bodies that are involved. Some find this surprising. Others point out that it may be indicative of their lack of importance at a local level.
External links
- Poole Partnership
- St.Helens Analysis and Research Exchange
- Government website about local strategic partnerships
- NACVS: article and link to paper on the future of LSPs
- Urban Forum's LSP guide
- Lewisham Strategic Partnership
- Sandwell Trends
- Wigan WISDOM
- Facts about Coventry
- Brighton and Hove Local Information Service