Archived decisions

No.

Recommendation

Progress

2.1

The Authority considers the assessment of the current arrangements for the management of its partnership working (set out in paragraph 5 of the consultant's report) and seeks ways of building on the strengths of its current approach to ensure it is fully `fit for purpose' in respect of the Audit Commission's principles of good governance for partnership working.

A partnership policy has been drafted. This policy includes a `Toolkit' for assessing the validity of our existing partnerships and the suitability of those considered in the future.

2.2

The Authority builds on the recent rationalisation of current partnerships through the review of its Partnership Register by undertaking a further `light touch' audit of the arrangements for those partnerships that remain (using the checklist set out in Appendix 1 of the consultant's report) to reassure itself and its partners that the criteria for partnership working are satisfied.

As detailed in paragraph 2.1., existing partnerships will be assessed using the `Toolkit' to ensure that the criteria set out is satisfied for each one. This should ensure that all partnerships fit the criteria.

2.3

The checklist be used by the Authority at both a strategic and an operational level -recognising that much partnership work is initiated by Group Managers - in its assessment of all future partnership proposals.

The Partnership Policy and Toolkit will be used by the Authority at both a strategic and operational level.