FAQs
Q. Why form a Local Strategic Partnership (LSP)
at all?
A. The formation of LSP’s was encouraged in the Local Government Act 2000 and is very much supported from Central Government. It is part of a drive for wider involvement in the delivery of public services.
Q. What powers does an LSP have?
A. It is an advisory body, which is non-statutory and non-executive. However it is increasingly absorbing statutory responsibilities such as Children’s Trusts and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.
Q. How are the different sectors represented?
A. In the early consultations individuals volunteered to participate as partners and they were selected to cover as wide a range as possible. There is no direct cascade of representation to other groups except in the voluntary sector, but the individuals are representative of the interest and views in their sectors.
Q. Is this just another talking shop?
A. No, the people around the table are there in an entirely voluntary capacity and are only prepared to participate if they can contribute to positive outcomes for Kent. The Partnership is, therefore, very action focused and ensures it adds value to the issues it engages in or does not get involved. It is entirely non-bureaucratic in its dealings and tries to provide support to existing structures and influence through lobbying on a cross-sector basis.
Q. Is the Partnership part of KCC?
A. No, the Partnership is independent of KCC and represents the members of the various sectors. KCC provides the administrative back up and appointed the Director to support the Partnership. The directorates of KCC are also heavily engaged in providing support through policy officers and resources from their departments.
Q. Why are there so many partnerships?
A. Different Partnerships serve different purposes and they each have limited capacity to influence the particular range of events. The Kent and Medway Economic Board is focused on inward investment and business issues and their Chairman is a member of the Kent Partnership, which provides a crucial link. Each district has its own partnership that focuses on local issues and they work closely together in 4 area partnerships across Kent. Each of the areas provides representatives to the Kent Partnership.
Q. Has the Kent Partnership absorbed any other organisations
or is this just prolific growth?
A. In the first year of operation the Kent Partnership absorbed 3 other organisations: The Kent Association of Local Authorities (KALA), the Kent Inter Agency Steering Group (KIASG) and the Kent Arson Group. They continue to seek to minimise the growth of partnership bodies, but there are some areas of specialisation that the Partnership could not presume to take over.
Q. How does the Kent Partnership seek the wider views
of the community?
A. There was wide consultation in creating the Vision for Kent, which is the capstone document that drives the Partnership. This was further reviewed in 2005/06. An annual conference has now been instituted in November at which a wide range of stakeholders are invited to participate and contribute their views and in the process monitor the Partnerships progress towards achieving the Vision for Kent. Should you wish to attend the Stakeholders’ Conference, please email us.
Q. How much does the Partnership cost?
A. KCC underwrites the cost of the Partnership Director and his PA, otherwise there is no money involved in the Kent Partnership. See separate details on the Kent Agreement concerning pooled funding and performance reward grant.
Q. Can you point to any definite successes of the Kent Partnership?
- Education Business Links
A major success of the last year was the bidding for and securing of the Learning and Skills Council Education Business Links Contract for 2005/6. With the extra financial support of Kent County Council, who have agreed to provide an additional £570,000 over three years from 2005-08, KCC was able to submit a cross-directorate bid which has led to the setting up of a new countywide service called Kent Works. This has been strongly supported by KCC’s own expanded work experience programme.
- Specialist Schools
The Partnership has helped unlock a potential £14.4m of funding and has helped contribute towards Education and Libraries target of achieving 95% of Kent schools with specialist status by 2006.
- Academies
The Marlowe Academy, initiated three years ago, is now moving fully ahead to be opened in September. The Channel Academy is also under development and is due to open in 2007. Three further announcements have just been made, giving the go-ahead for the Minster Academy, sponsored by Roger De Haan and Dulwich College, unlocking £40m. Southlands, sponsored by KCC and Microsoft unlocks £10m and Montgomery School in Canterbury, sponsored by Gerry Pack and Holiday Extras and Michael Head and Crown Products, unlocks £5m.
- New Sustainable Communities Strategy
The Partnership has just completed a review of and has formally adopted the new sustainable community strategy called “Vision for Kent”. This document sets out the aspirations for Kent over the next twenty years and has had significant input from people across the whole of the county. It has led on the Kent Environment Strategy and will monitor the implementation and actions which flow from these strategies
- Kent Business Community Investment Forum
The Kent Partnership and Pfizer have taken the lead on an initiative designed to improve the corporate social responsibility agenda of businesses across the county, helping them to provide training advice and support to their communities.
- Growth Areas
The Kent Partnership initiated Business in the Community visits that took place at Kent Thameside and Ashford. The visits, which were funded by SEEDA, focussed on what is on how businesses can connect with communities in these Kent growth areas.
- Local Area Agreement
The Kent Partnership successfully led negotiations and secured all round sign up to the Local Area Agreement pilot for Kent. This has brought various agencies together and has been a catalyst for greatly improving working relations between KCC and the District Councils.
- Construction Skills
The Partnership played a major role in the Construction Skills Strategy, supported by the Learning and Skills Council. This encourages training and particularly offering apprenticeship through the clients letting building contracts. The formal launch took place in February.
- Kent Design Dinner
Initiated by the Kent Partnership, this event drew together seventy delegates at chief executive level from the world of construction, design and architecture to drive the agenda forward in Kent. The evening took the theme of a dinner discussion between Sir Terry Farrell and Kent Design Champion Piers Gough CBE. The topic focussed around quality design across Kent, with a particular focus upon the Thames Gateway area and the contrast between big / iconic and small /conserving design.
- Property Disposals and Refurbishment
The Kent Partnership has played an active role in securing joint benefits through property portfolios. This included a £400,000 scheme to expand and refurbish the Age Concern Centre in Canterbury and the disposal of Southfields School in Gravesend to a mixed use development by a Registered Social Landlord.
Q. What is the lobbying power of the Partnership?
A. All the Partnership members are top level in their own businesses or fields and, join together to provide a powerful voice which is more than the sum of the parts. The principle of the Partnership is that substitutes and representatives do not usually attend but that it remains focused on the highest level in each organisation. This maintains its ability to deliver on promises and adds to the lobbying influence. The Kent Partnership has been a powerful lobbying voice for the county on CTRL Domestic Services, Cliffe Airport proposal, smoking in public places, the South East Plan and the retaining an independent Kent police force. It also lent bid support to the BME Support Network and is supporting the Kent Community Action Network in its bid for funding support.
Q. How often does the Partnership meet?
A. The Partnership itself meets 4 times a year and the Sub Groups each meet 4 times a year, but most of the work goes on between meetings in direct links between Partners and the co-ordination of the Partnership office.
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