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An Introduction to Local Strategic Partnerships

Introduction

A Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) is a non statutory body that brings together public, private, business, community and voluntary organisations on a local level. They provide a single overarching co-ordination framework which can ensure that different initiatives and services support each other and work together.

They were set up as a result of the Local Government Act 2000 which required each local area to devise and implement a Community Strategy. This is a long term plan setting out the ways in which all the key stakeholders in the borough will work together to deliver improvements for residents and service users.

Although optional, each of London's 33 borough's now have a LSP. Their work covers a whole range of key issues such as crime, unemployment, education, health and housing.

Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

Of London's 33 LSP's 20 receive Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF) which is extra government money targeted at the most deprived local authority areas.

These areas use the extra resources to develop and deliver Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies to try and narrow the gap between them and the rest and to contribute towards targets set out in the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal. These were first set out in 2001 and revised in 2004.

A total of £525 million per year has been allocated for 2006-07 and 2007-08 to 86 authorities across Britain as part of the NRF. Although the LSP can spend this money in the way it thinks will best tackle deprivation it is time-limited funding and meant to facilitate the more effective, long term targeting of mainstream resources.

Local Area Agreements

LSP's also have the responsibility of formulating and overseeing the delivery of Local Area Agreements which have to be agreed with central government represented by the Government Office for London (GoL).

These agreements set out the priorities for a given area and are usually formulated around four blocks:

• Children and young people
• Safer and stronger communities
• Health and older people
• Economic development and enterprise

Structure

Membership of LSP's can vary from area to area depending on local priorities. Typically they are structured to provide some linkage from the community level to that of the decision making forum. This may be through the involvement of the local Council for Voluntary Services (CVS), a local community forum or various community consultation arrangements.

Usually there is a co-ordinating group or management group made up of key representatives from the various stakeholders who are responsible for the day to day running of the Partnership.

In addition there may be existing partnerships including Community Safety Partnerships who's work has been incorporated into the Community Strategy and who are subsequently incorporated into the LSP as themed groups. The themes the Community Strategy will cover could include:

• Economic Regeneration
• Community Safety
• Homes and Neighbourhood
• Leisure and Culture
• Lifelong Learning
• Healthy Communities
• Environment
• Transport

Getting Involved

Each LSP will have developed differently to suit local circumstances and their is no single model, however each local authority will have paid officers who are responsible for the day to day running of the LSP and who can act as a first point of contact.

The voluntary sector is often represented through the CVS who may have an influence at various levels. It may be possible in some LSP's to be nominated by the CVS to participate in one of the themed groups, in others it may be possible to participate directly.

In the borough's which operate as Neighbourhood Renewal Area's community representation is organised via the Community Empowerment Network (CEN). In these area's the government provides resources via the Community Empowerment Fund to help the voluntary and community sector play a more active and influential role in setting and delivering local objectives.

Neighbourhood Renewal Areas In London

Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Brent, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster.

Further Information

• Department for Communities and Local Government
  Central government website with details of LSP's and link's to research and further resources.
  www.communities.gov.uk/
• Government Office for London
  Information on LSP's in London
  www.gos.gov.uk/
• London Voluntary Service Council
  A link to London Council for Voluntary Service website
  www.lvsc.org.uk/
• The LSP Guide
  A detailed guide to LSP involvement for the community and voluntary sector produced by Urban Forum and the Community Development Foundation.
  www.urbanforum.org.uk/ 

         Download a copy of An Introdruction to Local Strategic Partnerships        

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