What is the Swindon Strategic Partnership?

Swindon has its own Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).  It was originally formed in 2003 in answer to government legislation.  It is made up of representatives from the voluntary, community, business and public sectors.

Many of the issues facing local communities today can only be tackled if everyone works together, it is important that there is an effective way to enable this.  The Partnership aims to bring together all the organisations and groups that are involved in making decisions that affect the future well-being of the people of Swindon.

The Partnership produced A Shared Vision for Swindon 2008-2030, Swindon’s Community Strategy in 2008 - this is the one overall vision of how we want our Borough to be by 2030. From this big picture, all types of organisations, from public services like the police and health agencies to community groups and parishes, will take their cue to develop plans and policies to help make this vision a reality.  Follow the link to download a copy of the document and also to find out more about the Partnership.

The Partnership comprises

•The Partnership Board

•The Overview & Monitoring Group

•The Swindon Forum

How does the Partnership Work?

The Partnership Board is the accountable body for delivery of the Community Strategy and One Swindon.  The group comprises Chief Executives of the main public sector agencies, together with senior representatives from the business sector and voluntary/community sector.

The Board is chaired by the Leader of the Council and the main focus of the group is to:

• Deliver One Swindon outcomes
  
• Ensure effective inter-agency co-ordination and co-operation
  
• Improve the targeting of resources in the Borough
  
• Play a key role in establishing a long-term vision for Swindon through developing inter-agency planning.
  

The Overview & Monitoring Group – is comprised of elected community representatives from around the Borough.  

The main purpose of the Group is to have a ‘critical friend’ role by actively encouraging and engaging groups through their networks to enable the Council and partners to see the ‘community perspective’.

In its role as critical friend it will be in a position to listen to and help shape new initiatives and ideas from the Council and its partners eg: Connecting People, Connecting Places and StreetSmart.

The group is accountable to the Swindon Forum, Swindon Partnership Board and also to the community groups they represent.  They should provide an independent challenge through proactive methods/processes to the Board, the Council and its partners.  

The group organises two SSP Swindon Forum conferences each year.  The Swindon Forum is the name we give to the conferences. They are attended by a variety of people from voluntary/community sector, statutory and non-statutory organisations around Swindon.  The Conferences give people the opportunity to talk to the Board members, interact with the Chairs of the Block and members of the Overview & Monitoring Group.  It also gives them the opportunity to help shape outcomes for Swindon and be at the forefront of policy initiatives and development for the Borough.  If you would like to receive information about future conferences, please contact jbeattie@swindon.gov.uk

If you would like more information about Partnership Working in Swindon, please contact Alison Chamberlain on 01793 466301