Agenda item

The Chair introduced a research report that the LGA had commissioned from

Locality into the state of strategic relationships between councils and their local voluntary and community sector (VCS).

The Chair invited Hannah Small, Policy Adviser and Ed Wallis, Director of Policy & Engagement at Locality to present to the Board.

Hannah mentioned that the LGA had been active in this policy areas for some

time. During the pandemic, members had expressed how important it was to form strategic relationships with their VCS, as well as subsequently maintaining those relationships post-pandemic and addressing new challenges such as cost of living pressures. The LGA commissioned Locality to conduct research into the state of strategic relationships between councils and their local VCS. This was the LGA’s first in depth analysis and provided an honest reflection of the current state of relationships, the challenges and shared ambition.

Ed highlighted the following key points in his presentation which were:

• Research showed no fast and hard rules on what made a strategic or nonstrategic relationship but instead was defined by a set of qualities which were either present or absent.

• Relationships were mixed across the country and had been impacted by two

key events: the 2008 financial crash and Covid-19 pandemic.

• Present day factors that shaped the scope of council-VCS relationship

included continuing financial pressures and transitioning from one crisis to

another.

• Four principles underpinning strategic relationships included:

-   Shared foundations: clarity of purpose, values, and roles, built on

shared understanding, knowledge and a commitment to partnership

working.

-   Relational culture: behaviours and ways of working that enable the

power of community to flourish, with both sides giving generously to the

process and being open to receiving feedback.

-   Effective structures: systems, mechanisms and processes that are fit

for purpose and enable innovation and sustain long-term commitment

-   Capacity and resources: having the capacity to play a full role, with the

right time and supportive funding arrangements.

Hannah concluded that there would be several workstreams following the report. The first would be an accessible tool kit for members and officers to use. Secondly, one of the major challenges was the current cost of living crisis and the LGA would be creating a top tips guide for councils on how to support the VCS during this period.

Following the discussion, members made the following comments:

• Members highlighted that partnerships could work well but there could be

tension as well. On occasion councils and the VCS could be chasing the

same funding pots and commission. Ed replied that it was important to note

the shared foundations between the two sectors and having a shared mutual

understanding.

• Some members welcomed the Board taking this area on, although others

questioned the fit with the SSCB and sought confirmation that councils had

said a toolkit would be used.

• Members raised that the faith sector was missing and if there a reason why

this had been left out. It was important for councils and VCS to be able to

work with different faith groups. Hannah replied that the VCS partners

engaged with included faith based groups.

The Chair stressed that not everything under the VCS heading falls as part of

the SSCB remit, but that it was appropriate for the Board to take this overall

area of work forward. She added that with funding pressures, strategic

commissioning was paramount and more important than one off grant

funding, as it ensured outcome focused objectivise to spending money. The

Chair said there was a need for needs mapping with a technology-based

solution, matching up needs to where resources are.

Decision:

Members of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board noted the report.

Action:

• Officers to develop an accessible toolkit for lead members and senior officers to use to assess their relationships with their local VCS, based on a shortened version of the research.