Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership

C O N S T I T U T I O N

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1.1. Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership (BLSP) is the chosen vehicle of Statutory Public sector agencies/organisations and private, community and voluntary sectors to promote the social, economic and environmental well-being of the area known as the District of Bolsover.

1.2. The Partnership will aim to:

Facilitate and promote the development of shared, common aims and priorities
Promote and encourage shared purpose and commitment to the BLSP process from all sectors
Utilise the “in-house” expertise of the four sectors involved to increase effectiveness and responsiveness in relation to local service provision
Encourage mainstreaming as a key consideration in all aspects of core service delivery and when working with appropriate organisations and agencies in the activities of the BLSP
Promote the development of the local economy by working in partnership with appropriate agencies
Ensure all partners work plans and programmes consider and take into account the long-term sustainability of initiatives and services provided into local communities
Take responsibility for delivering against agreed priorities through partnership working
Bring together at local level the different parts of the public sector as well as the private, business, community and voluntary sectors so that different initiatives and services support each other and work together

Groups and the BLSP ESG are commissioned, where appropriate, by key agencies/organisations to promote and deliver good quality, affordable and efficient services to the communities served.

1.3. The Partnership will provide a forum for debate and discussion in relation to improving the quality of life of the locality.

1.4. The Partnership will lobby for and promote the area known as the District of Bolsover to a wide range of Government and external funding agencies.

1.5. The BLSP a non-statutory, non-executive organisation

2. FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1. The Partnership will be responsible to:

Work in partnership with Public Sector bodies in meeting their statutory responsibilities
Develop and co-ordinate the impact of the Community Strategy and the Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy by reviewing progress annually and producing a Community Action Plan
Ensure external funding opportunities are utilised to promote and impact upon National and Local priorities and targets in line with Government directives
Deliver and co-ordinate current Single Regeneration Budget Programmes
Ensure an effective Performance Management process to demonstrate best practice, evidence-based information and positive impact in local communities
Promote commissioning of initiatives and services by key service providers where possible
Encourage, where appropriate, partners to commit their organisations/agencies to the work of the BLSP to improve the long term sustainability of services/initiatives and positive impact in local communities

3. MEMBERSHIP

3.1

i) Membership of the BLSP Board shall consist of nominated representatives of key partner organisations/agencies together with relevant private, community and voluntary sector nominees:

Derbyshire County Council - 1 seat
District of Bolsover - 1 seat
Parish Councils - 1 seat
North Eastern Derbyshire PCT - 1 seat
Derbyshire Police - 1 seat
Connexions - 1 seat
Jobcentre Plus - 1 seat
Derbyshire LSC - 1 seat
NN/ND Sub-regional Strategic Partnership - 1 seat
North Derbyshire Chamber - 1 seat
Accountable Body - 1 seat (Power of Veto relative only to legal or fiscal decisions in relation to funding managed on behalf of the BLSP)
INVOLVE - 2 seats

Any nominee shall have the right at any time to be replaced by their organisation/agency/sector subject to formal notice to the Strategic Partnership Co-ordinator in consultation with the Chair/Vice Chair.

Substitutions. If a member is unable to attend a meeting they may not generally appoint a substitute unless in special circumstances agreed by the Chair. This person must be a member of the appropriate sector/organisation. To agree the substitution the member is required to:

Contact the secretariat to record apologies for the meeting and to notify the office of the name and position of the substitute; (the secretariat then to gain the approval of the Chair).
Ensure the substitute receives the appropriate agenda, reports and associated paperwork for the meeting.
Ensure s/he is given the necessary briefing.

A representative shall automatically cease to be a representative if the person ceases to be a member or employee of the member organisation.

Observers may be in attendance at the Bolsover LSP Board at the Chair/Vice Chair’s discretion and only in relation to a specific issue for debate/agreement. Observers will have no voting rights.

ii) Membership of the BLSP Executive Support Group (ESG) composition shall be composed of:

Crime (Community Safety Partnership) - 2 seats
Economic Prosperity (incorporating Employment, Transport, Town Centres and Tourism) - 2 seats
Community Wellbeing - 2 seats
Lifelong Learning (incorporating Education and Training) - 2 seats
Environment (incorporating Housing) - 2 seats
INVOLVE (Community Empowerment Network) - 2 seats

Support agencies :

Accountable Body – Power of Veto in relation to fiscal or legal implications with regard to external funding managed on behalf of the BLSP

PACCT – Administration/Co-ordination
GOEM – Advisory
DRCC – INVOLVE – Advisory

The BLSP ESG will agree a Terms of Reference for the Group.

iii) Membership of the BLSP Forum shall be the full partnership and will be open and accessible to all.

iv) Membership of the BLSP Action Groups will be decided and agreed individually by partners and/or their organisations as to their relevance and importance.

Each BLSP Action Group will agree an individual Terms of Reference and ensure smooth mechanisms of engagement through the structures (with the BLSP Board and BLSP ESG ) (See Appendices E for Action Groups’ Terms of Reference)

4. STRUCTURE

4.1. The BLSP will deliver its aims and objectives, functions and responsibilities through the current structure approved by the Partnership (see Appendices A and B).

The structure has been aligned to suit the Quality of Life headings contained within the Community Strategy, as follows:

Crime – Bolsover Community Safety Partnership
Economic Prosperity – Employment, Transport (incorporating Town Centres & Tourism)
Community Wellbeing – Health
Lifelong Learning – Education and Training
Environment – Housing and Environment

4.2. This will be reviewed and amended as appropriate following consultation with the wider partnership.

4.3. The BLSP Board will be required to:

Oversee the general development and management of the BLSP
Develop strategy around delivering against National and Local priorities
Oversee the management of funding streams being administered through the BLSP
Take emergency action and urgent decisions on behalf of the BLSP
Promote the image of the BLSP via appropriate marketing and publicity
Lobby and promote the area known as the District of Bolsover
Ensure activities agreed through the processes within the work of the BLSP Action

4.4. The BLSP ESG will be required to:

Agree appropriate Terms of Reference to ensure the BLSP Board are fully briefed and adequately informed to ratify and agree the activities of the Action Groups . (See Appendix D for BLSP ESG Terms of Reference)

4.5. The BLSP Action Groups will be required to:

Agree standard Terms of Reference for BLSP Action Groups allowing for specific tailoring to allow individuality. (See Appendix E for the BLSP Action Group’s TofR and Roles and Responsibilities of Action Group Chairs)

4.6. The BLSP Forum , Cultural Forum and Business Forum will be utilised mainly as a consultation route for specific issues ensuring processes are open, inclusive and participated in by all sectors. Promoting new partner engagement and enabling the activities of the BLSP to be accessible and shared with the wider community.

4.7. The District of Bolsover having been appointed, for the time being, as Accountable Body for the funding administered by the BLSP will appoint and manage key staff for the purposes of delivering and co-ordinating advice and assistance to partners.

4.8. The Partnership and Community Co-ordination Team (PACCT) shall:

Plan and co-ordinate the work of the BLSP
Oversee the work of the partnership ensuring key issues are debated and discussed
Oversee initiatives and timetables for delivery
Promote the activities of the BLSP
Provide a secretariat function to the BLSP Board , the ESG and the Forum
Monitor funded activities
Support BLSP Action Groups in an advisory capacity where appropriate
Liaise with GOEM and other external Government agencies/organisations
Provide support and guidance to BLSP for effective service delivery
Provide policy and strategy advice and guidance
Offer informed and impartial guidance and signposting for all sectors

5. MEETINGS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

Frequency of meetings

BLSP Board – Quarterly
BLSP Executive Support Group – 6 weekly
BLSP Action Groups – Monthly (approximately)

6. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR/VICE CHAIR

BLSP Board – the Chair/Vice Chair shall be appointed independently by representatives nominated to the Board only and will rotate the roles annually.
BLSP Executive Support Group (ESG ) – the Chair/Vice Chair appointed shall be the official Chair/Vice Chair of the whole Partnership and will be nominated and agreed by all partners on an annual basis at the AGM.

7. VOTING

7.1. Voting within the BLSP will only be utilised where a consensus of opinion cannot be achieved and will be a show of hands and shall be by a simple majority.

7.2. In the case of equality of voting the Chair/Vice Chair (one or the other) shall have a second or casting vote.

8. QUORUM

8.1. No business shall be undertaken at any meeting unless the following minimum number of partners are present:

BLSP Board - 5
BLSP Executive Support Group - 5
BLSP Forum – Not applicable
BLSP Action Groups – 5

9. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

9.1. A Special Board Meeting may be called at any time if at least 3 members request such a meeting in writing stating the business to be considered. At least 21 days notice must be given together with the details of the business to be discussed.

10. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

10.1. In relation to the management of any external funding via the BLSP:

Any partner having a personal interest within the meaning of the Accountable Body’s Code of Conduct shall at the start of the meeting, or as soon as possible thereafter, disclose the fact orally. Where the interest is a prejudicial one within the meaning of the Code, the partner will take no part in the consideration, discussion or voting in respect of that business. The minutes of the meeting will record the disclosure.

10.2. Any partner with a personal or prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the Partnership at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

11. CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

11.1. The Constitution of the BLSP may be varied or changed at the BLSP AGM of the BLSP Board called for that purpose. 21 days notice shall be given in writing to all partners of the proposed change/s.

Constitution 2004