Local strategic partnerships-a Briefing from Article 13

In a Briefing released today, Article13, the leading corporate social responsibility experts, examine Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs). The full article, and more information on the subject, can be found at Article 13's website- www.article13.com.

A brief history of Local Strategic Partnerships (PRWEB) June 6, 2003
The UK Government set up local strategic partnerships (LSPs) as a central part of its New Commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal and National Strategy Action Plan. LSPs are non-statutory bodies, which aim to bring together at a local level a range of stakeholders - from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors.

Core tasks
To prepare and implement a community strategy; work with local authorities that are developing a local public service agreement (PSA) and develop and deliver a local neighbourhood renewal strategy to secure more jobs, better education, improved health, reduced crime, and better housing.

Why?
A lack of joint working at local level has been one of the key reasons for lack of progress in delivering sustainable economic, social and physical regeneration; or improved public services, that meets the needs of local people. It was thought that by getting key local actors to work together to deliver the needs of the local area, improvements could be made.

How does it work?
There is a key group that forms the core membership of the LSP, and this includes public sector organisations, community organisations and local people, voluntary organisations and businesses. But the LSP is also quite fluid in that as it works on different issues, stakeholders for that issue can join in as appropriate.

The Government believes that LSPs should operate by consensus in order to reflect and retain buy-in from partnership organisations. It remains to be seen how effective a mechanism this is for delivering prioritised action plans by issue for the local area. Good leadership is crucial. Interestingly, an LSP does not have to be led by a local authority figure; it is up to the LSP membership who it wants to elects as a leader. As stated in the government guidance, this leadership is all about inspiring vision, enthusiasm and commitment, and commanding the trust of all other partners, including local communities. For businesses interested in taking a strategic lead in their local areas, this could be a real opportunity.

Opportunities for business
Many businesses will have looked at community involvement and investment as the philanthropic arm of their business, and the desire to put something back". However more and more businesses are seeing the benefits in kick-starting the local economy through engagement in local regeneration initiatives.
Local strategic partnerships are an ideal forum for business to work at improving their local community at a strategic level, on issues that impact on its ability to do business effectively, such as crime, education, health and transport.
The long-term business benefits include:
Increased local spending power
Investment opportunities for business growth
Appropriately skilled and motivated pool of labour

This is a brief synopsis of the Briefing. The full article, and more information on the subject, can be found at Article 13's website www.article13.com.

Ends

Article 13 unlocks the innovation opportunities of corporate social responsibility to deliver competitive edge and a new way of doing business". We implement these opportunities in business and government, both within the UK and internationally.

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Article 13's co-directors, Neela Bettridge, Jane Fiona Cumming and Dr Paul Toyne, have extensive experience in a number of critical fields: business strategy, participative planning and processes, the social and environmental arenas and communications. Article 13 also draws on the wisdom of distinguished advisors: Professor Dave Owen, Chris Hoare, Professor Colin Gilligan, Neill Irwin, Andrew Acland and Professor Mike Jones. This panel, in turn, is complemented by a network of specialists drawn from the social, environmental, economic, ethical and business worlds.

For further information please contact:
Lucy Shea
Article 13
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London NW11 7QE
Tel: 0208 731 7700
Fax: 020 8731 8800
lucys@article13.com
www.article13.com