Multi-Sector Strategic Partnerships

What are Strategic Partnerships?

There is a Government requirement for each local authority to form a Local Strategic Partnership, which is a multi–sector partnership, involving the voluntary and community sector, the business sector and the public sector working together to develop plans, share information and work at the “bigger picture” issues.

District Strategic Partnerships

Each district has its own Strategic Partnership and Sustainble Community Strategy. For more information about these, and how the VCS is represented on them see:

 

Gloucestershire’s Strategic Partnership

The Local Strategic Partnership for Gloucestershire, which was first established in 2002, used to be called the Gloucestershire Strategic Partnership (GSP). However, in 2006, its function and structure were reviewed to ensure that it was “fit for purpose”. In 2007 it was re-launched as the Gloucestershire Conference.

The role of the Gloucestershire Conference is to deliver the County’s Sustainable Community Strategy and the Local Area Agreement (LAA). It consists of three main parts plus a number of thematic partnerships:

The Gloucestershire Strategic Partnership, which is the visioning and deliberation and discussion part.

The Accountable Bodies Group which is the decision making part, consisting of Chief executives etc who can make decisions about resources to implement the Strategy.

The Community Strategy Executive Board, which is responsible for the implementation of the Strategy.

The thematic Partnerships are linked to the five blocks of the LAA and are:

  • Healthy Living and Older People

  • Children and Young People

  • Economic Development

  • Safer and Stronger Communities

  • Natural and Built Environment

Various other “cross cutting” issues that were being addressed by the “old” GSP, have been incorporated into these partnerships, such as Food, Learning and Transport.

 

How Is the VCS represented in the Gloucestershire Conference?

The VCS Assembly and its thematic strategy groups, have been developed to enable the VCS to link into, and be full and active partners in the Gloucestershire conference.

The VCS reps on the Gloucestershire Conference are:

Gloucestershire Strategic Partnership (GSP) - Sally Pickering (GAVCA)

Accountable Bodies Group (ABG) - Michael Heap (Chair of VCS Assembly)

Community Strategy Executive Board (CSEB) - Assembly Team Manager

The VCS is also represented on each of the thematic partnerships by elected representatives. This year, these have been elected by members of the equivalent VCS Strategy Group as an interim measure. However, in the future, a full election process, involving the whole VCS Assembly, will take place at around the time of the Assembly Annual Event.

For details of who represents the VCS on each thematic partnership see the VCS Strategy Group pages.

How Can I get involved?

For weekly updates on developments concerning the Gloucestershire Conference and its thematic partnerships, you can sign up to the Gloshub Bulletin.

For information about specific thematic issues, sign up to the relevant VCS thematic Strategy group.

You can contribute your views to the debate, by contacting your VCS representatives on the Gloucestershire Conference, by contacting your VCS representative on the Assembly Board and by attending the meetings of the VCS Strategy groups

For more information, contact the Assembly Team , whose role is to facilitate involvement of the VCS in partnership working.