NEW REALITIES

Mandy Elliott

Chief Executive

Crosby Housing Association

Andrea Watts

Head of Communities,

Sefton MBC.

NEW REALITIES

This workshop will look at

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• Development of the New Realities

document • what it aims to achieve • case studies • practical outcomes to support a ‘can do’

partnership culture going forward.

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The Hamilton Fazey community protocol

Protocol for engagement with community groups and community activity

No boundaries

Relationship with the council at political and officer level

Mutual understanding/respect between community & council

Can do attitude that demonstrates a will to support community activity

which benefits the borough and cannot be supported through

mainstream funding

An approach that finds the best solution

To be seen as a partnership for getting things done that is fully inclusive

and recognised by the public

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• Peter Morgan deputy CEO Sefton, took the lead

showing interest and commitment from the top

• CVS requested to lead on developing a protocol involving the wider voluntary sector

• Joint development group established August 2014 to explore

• how changes could be made • to avoid such situations recurring

• new approaches to working productively and

innovatively • with both commissioned and local community action

groups.

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• Sefton MBC: Councillor Patricia Hardy, Peter Morgan, Andrea

Watts, Christina Jones, Ian Willman, Sefton CVS: Angela White, Nigel Bellamy, David Egan, VCF Sector Partners: Nick Thompson (Friends of Waterloo Seafront Gardens), Mandy Elliott (Crosby Housing Association), Keith Lloyd (Brunswick Youth & Community Centre) Greta Morphet (Light For Life) Andrew Booth (SPAC) Lorraine Webb (Venus), Canon Pete Spiers (St Luke’s Church, Crosby) Neil Frackelton (Sefton Carers Centre).

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• The group committed to developing a framework using an action learning approach

• the “New Realities” document was developed and consulted upon

in the New Year 2015.

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A ‘CAN-DO’ COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT FOR

SEFTON COUNCIL & SEFTON’S VOLUNTARY, COMMUNITY & FAITH SECTOR

Local government and local communities are changing.

At the heart of the changes that are under way is a ‘re-imagining’ of local relationships, within which the development of

new, better, more equal and more productive partnerships between local authorities and local communities is key.

NEW REALITIES

COUNCIL JOURNEY - STAFF • Large & Complex organisation ! • January 2015 – Senior Leadership

Team • Heads of Service • One Council volunteers

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COUNCIL JOURNEY - COUNCILLORS • Championed by Cabinet Member • Discussed with Cabinet on an

informal basis • Formally approved for consultation

in January 2015 • Final approval in July 2015

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LEARNING FROM COUNCIL PERSPECTIVE • Cultural change • Professional boundaries • Senior Management Restructure • Work in progress !

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AN ACTION LEARNING APPROACH • Building relationships • Trust ! Compromise ? • Case Study submission • Living document • Full engagement

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Next steps The Development group is taking forward a programme of actions to promote and champion New Realities, through highlighting achievements and exemplars of good practice, identifying where improvements are needed and promote remedial action. Members of the development group will be an Ambassador to support the championing of New Realities principles to all front line LA staff, and all managers at all strategic levels. New Realities is being championed by the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing and the document was adopted by the Council following VCF sector consultation.

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ANY QUESTIONS ….