Working together to achieve the best outcomes for the people of Leicestershire

1. Working together to achieve the best outcomes for the people of Leicestershire Jackie Mould Head of Policy, Economy and Communities Chief Executive's Department Leicestershire County Council

2. Our Aspirations • Quality of Life • A strong economy - opportunities and jobs • Vibrant Communities - good neighbours and facilities • Health & Wellbeing Equalities and Supporting the Most Vulnerable runs through everything we do

3. The Challenge We Face Leicestershire is a relatively affluent County with active and engaged communities….. ….but with increasing demand for services at a time of reducing budgets….. …So how do we work differently to achieve our aspirations?

4. A Strong Economy • Working with the LLEP to : “Create a vibrant, attractive and distinctive place with highly skilled people making Leicester and Leicestershire the destination of choice for successful businesses”

5. Our Strategic Economic Plan

6. Combined Authority • Will cover Leicester and Leicestershire • Should come into force in December 2016 • Focussed on Transport, Skills and Strategic Planning • Will not replace the existing council structure • The Partners are: • City Council • County Council • District Councils • LLEP • Ambitious Devolution Deal being developed • Local Councils are a key stakeholder in developing this approach. • At local level: Neighbourhood Planning is popular in Leics. LCC support.

7. Leicester & LeicestershireStrategic Growth Plan • All 9 local authorities in Leicester & Leicestershire + LLEP working together on a joint plan and long term vision to 2050 • Practically this will: • Help us to plan for an agreed scale and distribution for future growth, reflecting the evidence available • Help us to create a single consistent strategic framework for Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans • Ensure that Leicester and Leicestershire is positively positioned to take advantage of private sector inward investment opportunities and national programmes of investment

8. Vibrant Communities • Communities Strategy has 3 priorities: • Priority 1: Unlock the capacity of communities to support themselves and vulnerable individuals and families - reducing demand on public services • Priority 2: Support communities to work in partnership with us to design and deliver services, including those currently delivered by the council • Priority 3: Develop voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations in Leicestershire as effective providers in a diverse market which supports delivery of our (service devolution and support for vulnerable people) priorities • A number of contracts help us to deliver our priorities including: • Community Infrastructure Contract to support the VCS Sector • RCC – Community Buildings • LRALC support for local councils • SHIRE Grants • We are reviewing how LCC can most effectively support these priorities

9. Health and Wellbeing

10. Local Councils as a strategic partner Local councils have a key role to play in shaping their local place and community by: Helping to build the capacity of the local community and foster community resilience. How can we work together to make this happen?

11. Different ways of working • Finding community-based solutions to maintain services under pressure from austerity budgets. • Enabling community-managed services • Devolving services to Parish & Town Councils • Working together to deliver services • Highway Maintenance consultation out now – if positive response from parish council sector could become a significant area of joint working • Parish Council input to Community Managed Libraries programme has largely been considered positive and constructive.

12. Different ways of working • Finding community-based solutions to develop and sustain community • services to support people’s health & wellbeing • Focus on ‘prevention’ places more emphasis on informal support in the community. • Good neighbour schemes, youth clubs, coffee mornings • LCC keen to help build community capacity that supports communities to help themselves (i.e. via Shire Grants) • Growing role for Local Councils to initiate, develop and manage local services and activities to support health & wellbeing.

13. LCC & LRALC – What do we value? • 3 year contract between LCC and LRALC coming to an end in March17… • What we value about the current contract: • Sound legal advice to councils – i.e. around devolution • Training & capacity building • Conduit for communication with parish councils • Voice of Parish Councils – not just via representation at strategic boards – but also by facilitating ability to gather views and debate issues – both via planned meetings such as the quarterly operational clerks meetings and on an ad hoc basis.

14. LCC & LRALC – opportunities • We could see potential for an enhanced role for LRALC • More capacity building & training – increase numbers of councils with ‘Power of Competence’ • Supporting/enabling clustering of local councils & joint working between councils across parish borders • Practical help & support – Project management capacity to help parish councils • to develop services & activities that support people’s health & wellbeing • to take on ‘devolved delivery’ of services

15. Any Questions?