Archived decisions

Contact: Andrew Smith ext: 7300 e-mail: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1. As a result of discussions with local authority leaders in Hampshire (during last year and again in the spring of 2008), the idea of a new partnership for Hampshire has been agreed as a way forward in promoting better integrated local service delivery, particularly around efficiencies, demonstrating the effectiveness of a two tier system and bringing coherence and democratic accountability to partnership working, around the implementation of the Local Area Agreement (LAA). This proposal supports all three of the County Council's Corporate Strategy aims by promoting an integrated approach to service delivery and improved outcomes in Hampshire and supports the Government's desire for strong and effective local government working.

1.2. The successful development of this initiative would require in due course approval of the Council in relation to its constitution and decision making. A further report will be prepared on these issues.

2. Recommendations

2.1 That Cabinet approves:

1. The establishment of a new partnership for Hampshire; and

2. On the basis of its successful development a further report be presented to Cabinet on the constitutional and decision making issues.

3. Background

3.1. A number of key drivers are impacting on local authorities and the way in which they operate and deliver services. These include:

· The need to demonstrate effective two tier working


· The drive for efficiencies across the public sector


· The need to reinforce democratic accountability across a range of partnership activities and public services

3.2. There is also an increasing emphasis from central government, through legislation and statutory guidance, to improve the experience of public services for citizens, improve outcomes and create sustainable communities through partnership working. This presents obvious challenges (and opportunities) in a two tier area.

3.3. The Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) which will follow on from CPA in 2009/10 will measure the progress and outcomes made by all of the partners in an area, including the local authorities, in delivering both local and national priorities as identified in the draft Hampshire Sustainable Community Strategy, including the targets set through the Local Area Agreement. Having a model for county wide collaboration therefore becomes compelling.

3.4. Currently there are a number of partnerships:

· a county level Hampshire Strategic Partnership (HSP)

· a Local Area Agreement Board (supported by an officer level Executive)

· 11 Local Strategic Partnerships at district level (LSP)

· 11 statutory Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) at district level

· the County Strategic Group for Crime and Disorder

· the Children & Young People's Partnership

· a developing county Health & Well being Partnership

3.5. As this agenda grows, it is increasingly important to reinforce the leadership role of the County Council in relation to this complex partnership landscape, and ensure that the County Council and its partners have a means of organising its partnership activity. Hence the idea of an overarching `Hampshire partnership' extending the voluntary collaboration which is already taking place in many areas. The development of such a partnership is therefore only another logical step in that direction, which offers the opportunity to rationalise some of the existing partnership arrangements. Far from being another tier of government, as some have suggested , this new arrangement potentially has the ability to reduce the bureaucracy around many fragmented central government initiatives and enhance the collaboration between elected and non elected bodies which deliver public services in Hampshire.

4. Hampshire partnership proposals

4.1. The proposed partnership will bring together the Leaders of all of the local authorities in the Hampshire County Council area along with key partners with the potential to provide collective political leadership for place shaping, strategic direction setting and a decision making context for the delivery of public services and partnership work. The key elements for the success of this arrangement are:

· a strong democratic body able to develop consensus and communicate on strategic direction for the area, particularly through the LAA improvement themes

· the ability to work with other regional bodies to ensure Hampshire's interests are served, especially in the light of the proposals developing from the sub-national review

· supporting delivery structures with stronger political accountability

· stronger links between partnerships at the county and local levels

4.2. The main activities of the partnership are intended initially to focus on: management and implementation of the Local Area Agreement; efficiencies and improved service integration and developing the "place-shaping" agenda for Hampshire.

4.3. The overarching vision and ambitions for the partnership could be based around consideration of the draft Hampshire Sustainable Community Strategy which has been prepared with regard to the 11 district sustainable community strategies. This also brings together an idea of what sort of place Hampshire is and could be.

4.4. The proposed membership of the partnership would include the leaders of the local authorities, representatives from the Police and Fire Authorities, PCT, voluntary sector, local military and SEEDA. The legal status of the partnership, its terms of reference and the constitution will need to be agreed, when it is clearer about how quickly the idea could develop and its ability to develop the agenda outlined above.

4.5 The County Council has secured £50,000 government funding and the support of the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership for this initiative.

5. Wider issues for further consideration

5.1. This new arrangement should achieve some rationalisation of existing partnership structures and a clarity of the status, role and relationships between other partnerships. For example:

· opportunities for rationalisation of the Hampshire Strategic Partnership and the LAA Board.

· links with existing and developing thematic partnership structures, such as the Children and Young Persons Partnership, the County Strategy Group for Crime and Disorder, the Health and Wellbeing Partnership, Hampshire Economic Partnership, The Rural Partnership, Integra.

· links to developing regional and sub-regional structures especially in the light of the sub-national review


Having a model for collaboration within Hampshire which is not yet fully developed would also have the virtue of being able to change and adapt to central government initiatives and opportunities. Using the LAA as a starting point brings together collaboration and improvement for public services in Hampshire.

6. Legal/ Constitutional issues

6.1.1. In terms of the legal and constitutional basis for the proposed new arrangement, there are a number of issues that will need further work and agreement among the members and partners. As the decision making and budget function proposals for the arrangement develop it will be important to establish the most appropriate legal structures to deliver them and, once agreement is reached, work can continue to set out the terms of reference and constitutional arrangements.

7. Next steps

7.1. The local authority Leaders, who will be involved in the partnership, are planning to build a consensus approach with the aims of bringing the wider partners together in September to further develop the partnership and preparing for a first full meeting in early October.

7.2. Work will continue to understand the issues and develop proposals in relation to the legal status and constitutional issues.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents, which disclose exempt or confidential information as, defined in
the Act - None