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Implications of the Current Position

 

 

Meeting: 21/09/2010 - Bath and North East Somerset Local Strategic Partnership Board (Private Meeting) (Item 6)

6 Strategy & Policy - The Changing Policy Agenda pdf icon PDF 22 KB

  • Covers: (1) Analysis and discussion on the emerging agenda and changing financial situation plus, implications for organisations round the table and implications for the future of the LSP as a whole
  • Background material: (1) Agenda Item 4 (The Changing Policy Agenda) (2) Appendix 1 (Financial Messages Across The LSP: Position Statement), Appendix 2 (Local Government Improvement & Development Presentation - Local Strategic Partnerships – A Time to Take Stock),
  • Desired outcomes: LSP Board (1) Outline the key issues identified in their template for their organisation / sector (2) Understand the opportunities & threats for the LSP posed by the changing financial and political landscape, (3) Consider the presentation attached at Appendix 2 and give their views on the questions set out in the final slide.

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Additional documents:

Minutes:

David Trethewey introduced the agenda item. The first section of the agenda item focused on establishing what the financial changes mean to the area and putting these changes in to a national context. Information is currently being gathered by partner organisations and all of the details will not be known for several months. The Partnership Position Statement: Financial Messages across the Local Strategic Partnership (Appendix 1 of the report) is seen as the first step to establishing the details in a local and national context. This work will be further developed and will be reviewed at the next LSP Board meeting on 14th December.

 

A request was made that the Partnership Position Statement: Financial Messages across the Local Strategic Partnership can be circulated to the groups and networks that Board members represent. It was also requested that the Partnership Position Statement:  Financial Messages across the Local Strategic Partnership closely aligns with the Sustainable Community Strategy. The summary also needs to be clearer about the Council and PCT integration and any changes that will happen in the current financial climate.

 

The second part of the agenda item focused on the future of LSPs and what they will look like in the future. The Government’s position is clear that it will be up to local areas to decide what is best for them. It was again emphasised that there are many gaps in information and it was recommended that this issue should be included at the next Board meeting on 14th December. 

 

It was stated that Council Tax is likely to be frozen through 2011/12 and the rights for communities to veto Council Tax rises will be introduced from 2012/13.

 

The discussion ensued around the LSP not being in place for the sake of simply being another structure and that it is important to make sure that the Sustainable Community Strategy is a relevant document. One way of achieving this may involve the LSP having a role in leading as a place based or Total Place budgeting body.  However it was emphasised that this will be challenging to achieve in the short term as there are several uncertainties.

 

Agreed that:

·  The Partnership Position Statement:Financial Messages across the Local Strategic Partnership and the Future of the LSP will be further discussed at the LSP Board meeting on 14th December

 

Key Actions

·  The Partnership Position Statement: Financial Messages across the Local Strategic Partnership is revised to capture additional comments from Board members on the financial changes (Action 45).

 

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