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Working with partners to drive economic growth, improve communities, and enhance health and wellbeing in Leicestershire through strategic planning and innovative solutions.
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Working together to achieve the best outcomes for the people of Leicestershire Jackie Mould Head of Policy, Economy and Communities Chief Executive's Department Leicestershire County Council
Our Aspirations • Quality of Life • A strong economy - opportunities and jobs • Vibrant Communities - good neighbours and facilities • Health & Wellbeing Equalities and Supporting the Most Vulnerable runs through everything we do
The Challenge We Face Leicestershire is a relatively affluent County with active and engaged communities….. ….but with increasing demand for services at a time of reducing budgets….. …So how do we work differently to achieve our aspirations?
A Strong Economy • Working with the LLEP to : “Create a vibrant, attractive and distinctive place with highly skilled people making Leicester and Leicestershire the destination of choice for successful businesses”
Combined Authority • Will cover Leicester and Leicestershire • Should come into force in December 2016 • Focussed on Transport, Skills and Strategic Planning • Will not replace the existing council structure • The Partners are: • City Council • County Council • District Councils • LLEP • Ambitious Devolution Deal being developed • Local Councils are a key stakeholder in developing this approach. • At local level: Neighbourhood Planning is popular in Leics. LCC support.
Leicester & LeicestershireStrategic Growth Plan • All 9 local authorities in Leicester & Leicestershire + LLEP working together on a joint plan and long term vision to 2050 • Practically this will: • Help us to plan for an agreed scale and distribution for future growth, reflecting the evidence available • Help us to create a single consistent strategic framework for Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans • Ensure that Leicester and Leicestershire is positively positioned to take advantage of private sector inward investment opportunities and national programmes of investment
Vibrant Communities • Communities Strategy has 3 priorities: • Priority 1: Unlock the capacity of communities to support themselves and vulnerable individuals and families - reducing demand on public services • Priority 2: Support communities to work in partnership with us to design and deliver services, including those currently delivered by the council • Priority 3: Develop voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations in Leicestershire as effective providers in a diverse market which supports delivery of our (service devolution and support for vulnerable people) priorities • A number of contracts help us to deliver our priorities including: • Community Infrastructure Contract to support the VCS Sector • RCC – Community Buildings • LRALC support for local councils • SHIRE Grants • We are reviewing how LCC can most effectively support these priorities
Local Councils as a strategic partner Local councils have a key role to play in shaping their local place and community by: Helping to build the capacity of the local community and foster community resilience. How can we work together to make this happen?
Different ways of working • Finding community-based solutions to maintain services under pressure from austerity budgets. • Enabling community-managed services • Devolving services to Parish & Town Councils • Working together to deliver services • Highway Maintenance consultation out now – if positive response from parish council sector could become a significant area of joint working • Parish Council input to Community Managed Libraries programme has largely been considered positive and constructive.
Different ways of working • Finding community-based solutions to develop and sustain community • services to support people’s health & wellbeing • Focus on ‘prevention’ places more emphasis on informal support in the community. • Good neighbour schemes, youth clubs, coffee mornings • LCC keen to help build community capacity that supports communities to help themselves (i.e. via Shire Grants) • Growing role for Local Councils to initiate, develop and manage local services and activities to support health & wellbeing.
LCC & LRALC – What do we value? • 3 year contract between LCC and LRALC coming to an end in March17… • What we value about the current contract: • Sound legal advice to councils – i.e. around devolution • Training & capacity building • Conduit for communication with parish councils • Voice of Parish Councils – not just via representation at strategic boards – but also by facilitating ability to gather views and debate issues – both via planned meetings such as the quarterly operational clerks meetings and on an ad hoc basis.
LCC & LRALC – opportunities • We could see potential for an enhanced role for LRALC • More capacity building & training – increase numbers of councils with ‘Power of Competence’ • Supporting/enabling clustering of local councils & joint working between councils across parish borders • Practical help & support – Project management capacity to help parish councils • to develop services & activities that support people’s health & wellbeing • to take on ‘devolved delivery’ of services