Agenda item

Report of the Chair (Jacqui Thompson, Assistant Director – North Lancashire Primary Care Trust) and Vice-Chair (Councillor Stuart Langhorn) of Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Management Group

The Panel received the Annual Performance Report (2009/10) from the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership (LDLSP) in respect of delivering the Sustainable Community Strategy.  The Chair of the LDLSP Management Group, Jacqui Thompson, Assistant Director – North Lancashire Primary Care Trust, and Vice-Chair, Councillor Stuart Langhorn, were in attendance to present the report and to answer questions from Members.

The report provided a performance update for 2009/10 based on the end of year reports from the Thematic Groups and also provided the end of year reviews of current LSP funded initiatives and an update of the LDLSP Management Group proposals for the use of Performance Reward Grant (PRG) allocated to the LDLSP from the Lancashire Partnership.

It was reported that Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) priorities were being delivered and the potential use of PRG had been considered.  The future development of the Board and Management Group and the recent appointment of an LSP Manager and two administrative assistants would enhance the way the Thematic Groups operated and increase the success of the LSP in delivering the SCS vision, whilst consolidating and embedding the Community Engagement and Performance Monitoring Strategies

Members were advised that the seven Thematic Groups had been asked to report progress by responding to two questions, namely how well are outcomes and improvements being delivered and what are the prospects for the future?  It was reported that the Children and Young People Thematic Group, which was also the Local Children’s Trust Partnership – Lancaster District, had not submitted a report.  They were funded by a separate funding stream and their year end report was available on Lancashire County Council’s website.

It was reported that the Thematic Groups had made significant progress in delivering the priorities assigned to them and the Second Homes monies had been used for the activities that had enabled delivery.  It was noted that the year-end reports for the funded projects were available on the Council’s website.  Details of a selection of the projects were set out in the report.

Members were advised that the LDLSP faced unknown challenges over the next few years due mainly to the impact of the recession, a reduction in funding levels/provision of resources and the withdrawal of partners from partnership funding.

It was reported that following the recent changes of Government and the current economic situation, the LSPs had recently been informed that the second instalment of PRG would no longer be available.  Lancaster City Council, as accountable body for the LDLSP, had confirmed that £478,384 had been received and the Management Group had agreed to target PRG funding at the issues identified as of most concern across Lancashire, being referred to as ‘Big Ticket’ issues: Health Inequalities, Climate Change, Affordable Housing and Worklessness and the Economy, adding a fifth one of Community Cohesion.

In 2010/11, there would be a refresh of the SCS and the PRG programme would be implemented.  The LSP would seek to strengthen its performance management processes and increase its visibility amongst partners and the community. 

The Chairman of the Panel asked for questions from Members to which the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the LDLSP Management Group responded.

Resolved:

(1)        That the Chair and Vice-Chair of the LDLSP Management Group be thanked for presenting the report.

(2)        That the Chair of the Children and Young People Thematic Group be requested to report to Budget and Performance Panel on the work undertaken by the Thematic Group in 2009/10 in respect of delivering the targets in the Sustainable Community Strategy.

(3)        That a standard end of year report format for use by the Thematic Groups be drawn up and adopted through liaison between the Budget and Performance Panel and the LDLSP Management Group.