Local Partnerships, the body established to support and improve public services and infrastructure at community level, comes into operation today.

18 August 2009

Local Partnerships, the body established to support and improve public services and infrastructure at community level, comes into operation today.  Local Partnerships will operate at a local level and act as a single source of expert advice on projects and infrastructure delivery at a time when decentralisation, joined up working and greater efficiency are increasingly important.

Local Partnerships offers support, investment and advice on PFI, PPP and other funding mechanisms, and the delivery of major local projects.  The organisation focuses on key sectors including education, transport, housing, waste, asset management, police, as well as health and social care.  Local Partnerships will be able to offer support across traditional boundaries, such as those between local authorities and Primary Care Trusts.  Joined up working amongst local public bodies is increasingly important with the launch of initiatives such as Total Place.

Local Partnerships staff will work for and on behalf of local public service bodies, including local authorities, primary care trusts, probation boards, police authorities, third sector organisations, social enterprises and sub regional groups.

Cllr Edward Lord, Chairman of Local Partnerships, said: “Local Partnerships will provide trusted, professional support to local public bodies to improve their ability to source and deliver high quality, cost-effective public services and infrastructure.  This new company will be a dynamic partner for public authorities delivering improved services in local communities.  We are all very much looking forward to working with stakeholders and local public bodies in the months ahead to maintain the transformation of our vital public services.” 

Cllr Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: “Local Partnerships is an integral part of the LGA group and fulfils an important role in improving the quality of people’s lives by helping to deliver change on the ground in local communities.  Local public bodies are working with limited resources and Local Partnerships will work closely with them to ensure the delivery of first class services.”

James Stewart, Chief Executive of Partnerships UK, said:  “The local public arena is going to be a crucial place for change over the next decade with all political parties signalling greater decentralisation to local bodies.  Local Partnerships will be vital in providing trusted, professional support to local public bodies to improve their ability to source and deliver high quality, cost-effective public services and infrastructure.” 

Local Partnerships’ priorities include:
• Running gateway reviews on projects run by local public bodies across the country
• Providing efficiency advice on asset management and back office functions
• Skills development programmes to build capacity and capability in public bodies
• Support to the Building Schools for the Future programme
• Procurement packs with best practice advice
• Providing expert transactor support to individual projects
• Management and delivery of regional and national investment programmes

Local Partnerships is owned equally by the Local Government Association and Partnerships UK.

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