Best Value Review of Partnership Working 2006/07

A Best Value Review must be chosen carefully as Government (DCLG) guidance asks local authorities to 'focus reviews on priority areas arising from their CPA's and other considerations'. With this in mind, the Council decided to select Partnership Working as its Best Value Review for 2006/07 because effective Partnership working is one of the priorities in the current Council Improvement Plan (our CPA Improvement Plan).

The Council is involved in a number of Partnerships, both locally, county-wide and regional. A Review of Partnership working would aim to ensure that the Council fully exploits the benefits of all current and future partnership arrangements. By working effectively with local partners we can improve the quality of life of the residents of the District as well as assisting in providing high quality, value for money services.

Scope of the Review

1. To review the current partnership policy (including clarification of the definitions of 'partnership working' and 'joint working')

2. Clarify the decision-making process that is taken before entering into new partnership work

3. Review existing partnerships and develop a methodology for continuing/reviewing any Partnership

4. Make recommendations to formalise partnership networks, ensuring that all governance arrangements and lines of responsibility are clearly defined

5. Robust performance management and monitoring arrangements to be put in place for all our partnerships

6. Communication - review the effectiveness of current communication arrangements within partnerships and between the Council and the Partnership

7. Community Involvement - review the current level of community involvement/engagement to ensure it is appropriate, that vulnerable groups are represented and that partnerships have a shared vision for the community

8. Clarity - ensure that all Partnerships that involve the Council have clear aims and objectives and are aligned with our corporate goals

9. Resources - reviews resources/funding issues to ensure that levels identified across all partners to support effective working are identified and, where applicable committed.

Outcome

The review has sought to help the Council to improve the way in which it works in partnership and in doing so, to improve the outcomes for local people by improving those services that the Council seeks to deliver through partnership working.

Recommendations from the Review

An Improvement Plan has arisen from the Review and is made up of the following themes. The plan is to be implemented and monitored by Management Team:-

• Improved clarity of aims & objectives and roles & responsibilities across all partnerships

• Effective community involvement and active community engagement

• Effective communication and sharing of information and good practice

• Robust performance management and monitoring arrangements

• Use of Resources

The current Partnership Policy has been updated to include:-

• The overall Vision for Partnership working

• A definition of what is partnership working as opposed to contractual arrangements and joint working/collaborative arrangements

• A statement to ensure that all formal partnerships assist the Council in achieving its priorities

A checklist has been developed (to support the Partnership Policy) that all existing or new Partnerships must complete which details:-

• Whether the partnership is statutory or discretionary

• The shared Vision, purpose and objectives of the existing/proposed partnership

• How the partnership will help to deliver the Council's priorities

• The role that each partner will fulfil within the Partnership

• The Governance and operating procedures, including the Council's obligations and liabilities

• Performance Management arrangements detailing clear measurable outcomes, reporting arrangements and management of risk

• The impact and benefits to the community, have a programme of community engagement and involve all key stakeholders at the inception stages of setting up partnerships and in developing shared solutions

• The timetable for reviewing the effectiveness of the partnership and its aims and objectives and the process for reporting the findings of the review.

A Statement of Commitment to partnership working has been developed.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees, as part of their 2007/2008 work programme, to scrutinize all existing key partnerships; evaluate effectiveness and efficiency of approach against the proposed Partnership Policy and Checklist.

Arrangements are put in place to share information and good practice on community engagement across all key partnerships.

Explore opportunities for shared procurement opportunities (to exploit economies of scale) and identify cost efficiencies, whilst remaining realistic about the funding climate, ensure all avenues of additional resource are explored in a systematic and coordinated way.

The Best Value Review full reports, policy and checklist are available on this page. The recommendations will be published shortly.

For further information please contact the Performance Improvement & Review Team on 01789 260604 or e-mail pi&rt@stratford-dc.gov.uk