Presentation to Swansea Council Partnership Overview & Scrutiny Committee April 2011

1. Swansea Local Service Board: Seven Questions Partnership Overview & Scrutiny Committee 11 th April 2011

3. 1. What exactly is a Local Service Board?

4. Welsh councils describe their LSBs differently a voluntary arrangement an executive board a collection of public and voluntary sector leaders a non-statutory collaborative body working collectively the local leadership team a problem solving group

5. The Welsh Assembly Government says: Local Service Boards are where the leaders of local public and third sector organisations come together to take collective action to ensure public services are effective and citizen focussed.

6. WAG also says: LSBs are not separate and formal institutions. They should not therefore be seen as distinct delivery mechanisms in themselves. They do not replace the statutory responsibilities of local authorities or the established accountabilities of public bodies and other partners, whether devolved or non-devolved. LSB’s Frequently asked questions Nov 2009

7. Swansea Council describes its LSB like this: “ Swansea's Local Service Board is a problem solving group which includes the leaders of Swansea's main service providers as well as representatives of the Voluntary and Business sectors and the Welsh Assembly Government.”

8. 2. Who is on Swansea’s LSB?

10. 12 organisations are on the LSB Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board City & County of Swansea Environment Agency Wales Gower College Swansea Job Centre Plus Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Swansea Council for Voluntary Services Swansea Business Forum Swansea Metropolitan University Swansea University Welsh Assembly Government South Wales Police

11. Six strategic partnerships are represented Swansea Economic Regeneration Partnership Safer Swansea Partnership Swansea CYP Executive Board Swansea Environment Forum Health Challenge Swansea Swansea Learning Partnership

12. Everyone has signed up to a Partnership Agreement

13. 3. Where Did Swansea LSB Come From?

14. In 2006 Sir Jeremy Beecham recommended reform

15. WAG responded later that year “ We will insist that services for people are more joined up and that the Assembly works more closely with the important service delivery organisations like local councils.” Sue Essex AM November 2006: Delivering Beyond Boundaries

16. The LSB concept was revealed soon after “ We are developing the Local Service Board model in a new way - concentrating on outcomes and encouraging the local partners to design the structures and processes that fit the problems we are trying to solve.” Sue Essex AM January 2007: Local Service Boards in Wales

18. The proposal for Swansea’s LSB was agreed by Council in 2008

19. The Swansea model had some boxes to tick Build on existing structures – no new bodies Tackle existing priorities – those already in the Community Strategy Make a difference through projects

20. 4. What Does Swansea LSB Actually Do?

21. Swansea LSB focuses on projects The Local Service Board aims to tackle a small number of service delivery issues. These are typically issues where there is a high number of providers and where citizens may find services confusing and difficult to access. These are also issues which are important to the community but which have proved difficult to resolve.

24. 5. What has Swansea LSB achieved?

25. The projects have made a difference for example… Employment opportunities Information sharing Team around the family NEETs Research & Information Family Learning Signature Training Consultation database Police resources in city centre Coordination of NEETs work

26. It has changed the way that partners work

27. By 2015, around £750k of grant will have been drawn down Early Intervention project team Team around the family Communities First Links NEETs project team Early Intervention research Consultation database NEETs research Family Learning Signature

28. 6. What are the challenges?

29. The democratic deficit is still a concern It’s not democratically accountable WAG is trying to take power away from elected councillors Councillors don’t know what is happening with the LSB Nothing is reported back Where is the scrutiny? Priorities are being set away from the Council

30. Communication and engagement could be better Councillors Staff

31. People aren’t sure the LSB has made a difference Do you agree that the Better Swansea Partnership/Local Service Board has made a real difference for Swansea? 8 15 Strongly disagree 22 30 Tend to disagree 51 38 Tend to agree 4 6 Strongly agree 2009 (%) 2010 (%) Councillors (47) 9 10 Strongly disagree 41 45 Tend to disagree 32 28 Tend to agree 1 0 Strongly agree 2009 (%) 2010 (%) Council Staff (156)

32. 7. What Next?

33. A greater focus on innovation and efficiency?

34. More effective scrutiny?

35. A new agenda from a new WAG? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

36. Swansea Local Service Board: Seven Questions Partnership Overview & Scrutiny Committee 11 th April 2011