Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision: To consider the LAA performance reports 2009/10 relating to Cambridgeshire Together and Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor:

 

The Leader of the Council received comments from the Scrutiny Committee regarding

 

o      2009/10 end of year performance against LAA indicators associated with Cambridgeshire Together and Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership

 

o      Any issues that the committee through should be fed back to Cambridgeshire Together or the Local Strategic Partnership.

 

o      Any changes that should be made to the Council’s Principles for Partnership Working. The committee recommended the following changes

 

·        It was agreed that references to activities related to the Local Area Agreement should be removed by removed from statement of partnership working principles.

 

·        The value of the Joint Accountability Committee was seriously questioned, and it was suggested that references that it provides effective scrutiny should be removed.

 

Reason for the Decision:  As set out in the officer’s report. 

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations:

 

The committee were advised that items 10/53/SR, 10/54/SR and 10/55/SR were reporting performance of the local area agreement in the previous year. It was noted that the local area agreement would end in March 2011 and that it was anticipated that the reward grant would not be forthcoming. It was further noted that data collection had already ceased on a number of targets, such as the cancellation of the place survey.

 

The committee received a report from the Head of Strategy and Partnerships regarding LAA performance in 2009/10 associated with Cambridgeshire Together and the Local Strategic Partnership. The Head of Strategy and Partnership highlighted the following key points

 

i)                   The partnership arrangements were currently subject to review and that the likely outcome was a very radical overhaul of the existing structure, and that this should be considered in conjunction with the Council Motion of July 2010 regarding effective partnership working.

 

ii)                 The committee were advised that appendix A of the committee report was a list of the project funded through the LPSA reward grants. It was noted that the city council acted as the banker for the local strategic partnership and that £4.5m had been received to date across the county but that the final payment of £4.5m had been cancelled by the government. The committee noted that certain projects had been cancelled or remodelled as a result of the funding not being forthcoming.

 

The members of the committee made the following comments on the report and responded to the recommendations.

 

i)                   With reference to table on page 29 on the committee agenda clarification was sought on when the targets were set. The Head of Strategy and Partnership advised that the local area agreement had been refreshed prior to the full effects of the recession becoming clear.

 

ii)                 It was agreed that references to activities related to the Local Area Agreement should be removed by removed from statement of partnership working principles. The Leader agreed to the proposal.

 

iii)               The value of the Joint Accountability Committee was seriously questioned, and it was suggested that references that it provides effective scrutiny should be removed.

 

iv)               Clarification was sought on the legal status of the Sustainable Community Strategy and whether there continued to be a legal duty to produce one. The Head of Strategy and Partnerships confirmed that there was a currently legal requirement to produce one and that the LSP was currently leading on a refresh of the document to be completed prior to March 2011.

 

v)                 The success of the partnership arrangements in mitigating for the problems which arose through the concessionary bus fares was welcomed.

 

vi)               The Director of Customer and Community Serviceswas asked whether the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment would continue to be produced. It was confirmed that the current iteration would be produced imminently, however it was explained due to the restructuring of the health service it may not possible to maintain the document on an ongoing basis.

 

vii)             Concerns were expressed about the effects on the voluntary sector due to the nature of the funding cuts.

 

viii)           It was agreed by all members that there were too many partnerships but where appropriate that most valuable and cost effective partnership working should continue.

 

ix)                With reference to the summary analysis of partnership working, the value of the continued existence of, or involvement, in certain partnerships was questioned.

 

The Leader responded and welcomed the comments raised by members of the committee. The Leader agreed to remove the reference to the Local Area Agreement in appendix A. The committee were updated on the proposals for updating partnership arrangements.

 

The committee made the following additional comments in light of the leaders response

 

i)                   The strength of particular partnerships and joint working arrangements were emphasised. The enhanced relationship with South Cambridgeshire District Council was given as an example.

 

ii)                 It was noted that other partner organisations were undergoing significant changes.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and noted the recommendations.

 

The Leader of the Council agreed the recommendations.