Forest of Dean Partnership

WHAT IS A LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP?

The government defined Local Strategic Partnerships in 2001 as a way of bringing together organisations from the public, private, voluntary & community sectors so that they can:
o Align their budgets & resources to deliver better outcomes by working together rather than in isolation.
o Reduce duplication
o Deliver better value for money
o Share knowledge and expertise

The work at a strategic level connecting to regional and national directives but they also work at a level which allows action to be determined by the community.

The Forest of Dean Local Strategic Partnership was set up in 2003

WHAT DOES IT DO?

It talks to people in the community and listens to what they say is important and it captures them in a document called a Sustainble Community Strategy.  Partners delivering services in the district then work together to work towards these priorities. 

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

The Local Strategic Partnership has a  Board, an Advisory Group and six Delivery Groups:

The Board is made up of sixteen people; they are senior members of their organisations who lead and inform the partnership at a local and at a county level - they have a strategic function.

The Advisory Group is made up of 7 people who performance manage the partnership - they look at what we said we would do and review how we've performed; they look at national guidance and summarise it to enable the Board to digest the information quickly.

There are six Delivery Groups which mirror the priorities in the Sustainable Community Strategy – the things you said were important. Each delivery group has a two-year action plan which contains the projects they are working on.  Two year action plans enable partners to develop projects buy this is short enough to ensure that they are able to respond to things that cannot be predicted, such as the economic downturn.

OUR VISION:

By 2020 we want the Forest of Dean district to be a place with a great quality of life:

• Where the high quality of our environment is valued and enhanced for future generations and the causes and effects of climate change are addressed
• Where community life is strengthened and all individuals are confident, safe, feel part of their community and are proud of it
• Where the economy is vibrant and strong and people can access the services they need
• With a distinctive identity locally and nationally

 Click here to view our Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-2020

More information is available within this site but if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Lena Maller, Forest of Dean Local Strategic Partnership Coordinator, who is based at the district council.