A report evaluated the potential, though to date "somewhat limited" progress, that local strategic partnerships had made in addressing issues of economic development, especially at the regional and sub-regional levels.
Source: Crispian Fuller and Jonathan Davies, Local Strategic Partnerships, Multi-level Governance and Economic Development, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
A report sought to provide baseline data on community strategies and plan rationalization. Considerable progress had been made on the development of community strategies, with the majority of strategies in place as formally approved documents. Respondents felt that the most significant impact of plan rationalization would be in terms of creating more integrated services and reducing levels of bureaucracy.
Source: Alison Darlow, Yvette Fidler and Penny Wymer, Process Evaluation of Plan Rationalisation/Formative Evaluation of Community Strategies: Report of the December 2004 Survey of Local Authorities, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
A report discussed concepts and practices of leadership within the context of local strategic partnerships. It drew on research evidence, and concluded with a model for taking forward issues of leadership.
Source: Sue Goss, Leadership in Local Strategic Partnerships, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
A report assessed the contribution of the voluntary and community sectors to local strategic partnerships.
Source: Hilary Russell, Voluntary and Community Sector Engagement in Local Strategic Partnerships, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
A report reviewed all community strategies prepared by local authorities and local strategic partnerships. Very few strategies included sufficient material to suggest whether evidence had been used appropriately to derive the strategy and a series of actions. Most areas set targets which closely followed central government policy objectives and targets.
Source: Peter Wells and Rosalind Goudie, Process Evaluation of Plan Rationalisation/Formative Evaluation of Community Strategies: Review of community strategies - Overview of all and more detailed assessment of 50, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
A report examined what could be done to support the development of more robust partnership arrangements in local government services.
Source: Into the Mainstream: Partnerships that make a difference, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Dec
A report evaluated local strategic partnerships at the sub-local authority level. It examined responses to government policy which encouraged neighbourhood working, and outlined key enabling and constraining factors.
Source: Helen Sullivan and Jo Howard, Below the Local Strategic Partnership, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
The government began consultation on proposals designed to make local strategic partnerships central to the delivery of effective local area agreements, the development of strong local leadership and devolved decision-making, and a key driver of community engagement. It suggested giving statutory bodies a 'duty to co-operate' in the partnerships, which could include attendance, financial, and staff obligations.
Source: Local Strategic Partnerships: Shaping their future, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Consultation document | Supporting paper | ODPM press release | Community Care report
Date: 2005-Dec
The Northern Ireland Executive announced structural reforms to local government, following an overall review of public administration. Powers over planning, local roads and regeneration were devolved to District Councils.
Source: Press release 22 November 2005, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: NIE press release | Statement
Date: 2005-Nov
A manifesto identified the key issues that local councils in Wales would focus on until the 2008 elections and beyond. It contained "ambitious and innovative" plans for the continuing improvement of local communities.
Source: Leading Reform in Local Services: Manifesto for Welsh local government 2005 2008, Welsh Local Government Association (029 2046 8600)
Links: Manifesto (pdf) | WLGA press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A collection of papers reviewed governance and public decision-making structures at the local authority level in Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Source: Kirsten Bound, Michael Carley, Julie Harrison, Paul Skidmore and Victoria Winckler, Mapping Governance at the Local Level, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2005-Sep
A report said that involving local people delivered improved public services, and saved money by better targeting local needs. Community involvement was a crucial factor in improving services in deprived areas.
Source: SQW Ltd., Improving Delivery of Mainstream Services in Deprived Areas: The role of community involvement, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf) | ODPM press release
Date: 2005-Sep
A report presented the findings from a survey of all local strategic partnerships (LSPs) in England undertaken in summer 2004.
Source: Office of Public Management et al., Report on the 2004 Survey of All English LSPs, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Aug
An interim evaluation of local strategic partnerships (LSPs) said that they were faced with a potentially huge agenda; there was a danger that effort would be dissipated and ineffective, because it was too widely spread given the resources available.
Source: Office of Public Management et al., Evaluation of Local Strategic Partnerships: Interim report, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2005-Aug
A report looked at the progress made on the agenda of devolution, strengthened local government, more robust local partnerships, and stronger leadership for localities.
Source: Leading Localities: Local area agreements, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
A think-tank report said that the local knowledge and democratic accountability of local authorities and their elected members were critical to delivering projects people wanted.
Source: Local-Regional Partnerships: Lessons for the next generation, New Local Government Network (020 7357 0051)
Links: Report (pdf) | NLGN press release
Date: 2005-Jul
A report evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of the negotiation of the first round of local area agreements. (Local area agreements are designed to deliver better local service outcomes through improved co-ordination between central government and local authorities and their partners.)
Source: Office of Public Management et al., A Process Evaluation of the Negotiation of Pilot Local Area Agreements, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
The government announced the roll-out of local area agreements to all local areas in England. (Local area agreements are three-year agreements setting out the priorities for a local area, agreed between central government, represented by the government office, and a local area, represented by the local authority and local strategic partnership and other key partners at local level.)
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 22 June 2005, columns 37-38WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2005-Jun
An evaluation was published of a project which supported participation by voluntary and community sector organizations in local strategic partnerships in England.
Source: Imogen McLean, Active Partners: Evaluation report, Urban Forum (020 7253 4816)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A report examined the state of Charter formation in England. There was support for Charters among the majority of local councils interviewed. It was accepted that, if understood by members and officers in both tiers, a Charter could act as an effective benchmark to hold people to account. (Charters are agreements setting out additional benefits and responsibilities for local authorities in their relationship with their principal authorities.)
Source: Charters for Town and Parish Councils and Principal Local Authorities, Commission for Rural Communities (020 7340 2900)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | NALC press release
Date: 2005-May
A research report made recommendations designed to improve local authority research effectiveness.
Source: Janie Percy-Smith, Knowledge is Power: The need for effective research in local government, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A report provided baseline data for evaluating the use of the 'well-being' power by local authorities. (The Local Government Act 2000 gave local authorities discretion to undertake any action to promote the social, economic and environmental well-being of their area.)
Source: Formative Evaluation of the Take-Up and Implementation of the Well Being Power, 2003-2006, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf) | Methodology paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-Mar
A think-tank report examined the experiences of 24 local authorities engaged in various forms of partnership and collaboration. It called on local government to embrace partnership working, as the best way to meet new and emerging agendas in local service delivery - such as choice and personalization, greater public engagement, and community well-being.
Source: Natalie Tarry, New Ways to Modernise, New Local Government Network (020 7357 0051)
Links: NLGN press release
Date: 2005-Mar
A report outlined the findings from the scoping phase of simultaneous evaluations of the rationalization of 'plans' between central and local government, and the preparation of community strategies.
Source: Peter Wells, Lynne Dowson and Janie Percy-Smith, Process Evaluation of Plan Rationalisation/Formulative Evaluation of Community Strategies: Consultation findings and evaluation framework, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
A think-tank report sought to identify the potential of local authority environmental services to engender real change within communities. It showed councils how they could join up a range of policy initiatives on neighbourhood management, 'streetscene' and liveability for maximum effect.
Source: Environmental Services: At the heart of every community, Association of Public Service Excellence (0161 772 1810)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jan