Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Social Care Policy Review Committee

23 January 2004

Draft Community Strategy for Hampshire

Report of the Director of Social Services

    Item 7

Contact: Nicky Pendleton Partnership Manager. 01329 514121 [email protected]

1. Summary

    1.1. The draft Community Strategy for Hampshire is currently out for consultation with a wide range of partners. Ownership of this document lies with the Hampshire Strategic Partnership, not the County Council. The County Council is a consultee in this process. The views of the Social care PRC on the draft document are sought as part of the consultation process (appendix A).

    1.2. CMT has already considered the draft Community Strategy, and their comments have been incorporated as a result.

    1.3. The HSP contributes to the delivery of aims 1,3 and 4 of the Corporate Strategy by ensuring closer working between all partner organisations to improve health and wellbeing of residents in Hampshire.

1. Background

    1.1. A draft Community Strategy for Hampshire has been prepared through the Hampshire Strategic Partnership (HSP). The draft strategy has been developed through pulling together information and priorities from:

      2.1.2 all of the partners on the HSP;

      2.1.3 the priorities that have been identified from the work the district Local Strategic Partnership's have done on their community strategies;

      2.1.4 MORI information; and

      2.1.5 Hampshire Cabinet priorities and Corporate Strategy.

    1.2. The draft strategy is intended to be a framework within which the key partners will work and which from an action plan will be developed. It is not an amalgamation of existing plans and targets for each of the partners.

    1.3. The strategy is aimed at key partners and stakeholders, but also needs to be available to, and accessible by, the public. At present the draft document aims to achieve all this but preliminary feedback indicates the HSP may need to have a separate document for partners and summary for the public.

2. Structure of the document

    2.1. The draft strategy identifies a vision of what the HSP thinks Hampshire should be like in 20 years time. `Hampshire will be a prosperous and attractive county for all, where economic, social and environmental needs are met in the most sustainable way and the quality of life and sense of community of present and future generations is improved'.

    2.2. This vision is then broken down into 4 key themes which aim to be cross cutting. They are:

      3.2.1 Strong and safe communities

      3.2.2 Health and Wellbeing

      3.2.3 Economic prosperity and lifelong learning

      3.2.4 Environment, infrastructure and transport

    2.3. Each theme has an audit of the issues currently facing Hampshire, an outline of current activities, and the outcomes the HSP would like to see in 10-15 years time. This is supplemented where possible with information from research feedback from the Hampshire community.

    2.4. The HSP were keen that individuals in the community could see that they had a part to play. Therefore within each theme there is also a brief section outlining what people can do in their daily lives to contribute to achieving the outcomes. HSP would like to see this section strengthened as a result of the consultation process.

    2.5. An important part of the Community Strategy for Hampshire will be its action plan. A key part of the consultation is an invitation to all partners to identify priorities and suggest appropriate actions for this plan.

3. Principles

    3.1. The HSP have a number of clear principles for the Community Strategy:

      4.1.1 It must be supported by clear, tangible, achievable and measurable actions

      4.1.2 There should be no more than 3 or 4 key actions per topic

      4.1.3 The actions should be cross cutting and strategic

      4.1.4 The actions must aim to complement, but not duplicate, the work of the district Local Strategic Partnerships

      4.1.5 The actions must add value and be something that wouldn't happen if the HSP did not exist

      4.1.6 The HSP should help facilitate cross boundary issues and share best practice

      4.1.7 The HSP should play a co-ordinating role for the key issues for all the LSP's in Hampshire and lobby regional and central government to get the best deal for Hampshire

4. Consultation

    4.1. The HSP Steering Group met on the 3rd October and approved the draft strategy for a 12 week consultation, to January 2004. The draft strategy was then circulated to delegates at the annual Hampshire Strategic Partnership stakeholder conference which took place on the 14th October , and amended slightly as a result of comments made there.

    4.2. The consultation has three main elements:

      5.2.1 All members of the HSP are being asked to comment on the draft strategy and identify key areas for action. The County Council contributions must be integrated into our planning and budgeting processes for 2004/5.

      5.2.2 All district Local Strategic Partnerships are being consulted and invited to input and agree shared priorities.

      5.2.3 A Community Workshop is being commissioned to ensure community engagement.

    4.3. CMT has already considered the draft Community Strategy, and their comments have been incorporated as a result.

    4.4. The draft strategy will also be taken to the Social Care PRC, together with all other PRCs and Departmental Management Team meetings for their comments. These will be fed back to the HSP along with the results of the rest of the consultation and a final draft will be approved by the HSP. The final draft will then be taken through the normal county council approval process in February 2004.

    4.5. A key part of the consultation process is to focus on the action plan and what the HSP is going to do in terms of developing the actions. It is essential therefore that all stakeholders take ownership of the draft Community Strategy in order to achieve the `added value' actions that are needed to make the Community Strategy beneficial for the community of Hampshire.

6. Timescales

Dates

Action

Nov 03 - Jan 04

    · 12 week consultation on draft strategy

    · development of action plan

Feb 04

    · HSP steering group to consider changes to draft strategy

    · HSP agree action plan

March 04

Final draft of the Community Strategy for Hampshire to Executive Member and Leaders Decision Day

April 04

Strategy published and disseminated

Recommendation

The Social care PRC is invited to comment on the draft Community Strategy for Hampshire, and to suggest appropriate actions as the County Council's contribution to achieving the desired outcomes.

Background Information


Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers