The Accreditation Guidance for Local Strategic Partnerships, published today, will aim to help communities join forces with public-sector agencies, to drive forward the government’s neighbourhood renewal agenda – improving the poorest areas through better local services. The guidance will expand upon a series of criteria designed to encourage LSPs across the country to develop effective structures and inclusive working practices.
Only those LSPs in the 88 areas where the local authority is receiving neighbourhood renewal funding will need to be formally accredited by the government.
The guidance is designed to ensure that everyone gets an equal say and an active part in working to improve their neighbourhoods. Genuine community engagement is an essential requirement for passing the accreditation process, and for LSPs to progress their renewal plans.
Planning Minister, Lord Falconer said: “Local Strategic Partnerships must focus everyone’s skills and energies – residents, voluntary and community groups, business and public sector agencies – to provide the momentum to deliver decent local services and to boost the renewal of their neighbourhoods.
Local Strategic Partnerships operate as non-statutory, non-executive organisations. Their core responsibilities will be to: prepare and implement a community strategy for the area; develop and deliver a local neighbourhood renewal strategy to tackle deprivation; co-ordinate local plans, partnerships and initiatives and provide a forum for local councils, the police health services, central government and other agencies to work to meet community needs; and work with local councils to develop local public service agreements (PSAs).
PLS News 3/10/01
