Please note that this Service Plan will need to be presented and approved at the next BBLSP Executive meeting. This is, therefore, an interim service plan and will be finalised now that the BBLSP Manager post has been filled.
Our Service
Brief Description of Services Provided
• Delivery of sustainable community strategy for Berwick Borough
• Co-ordination and servicing of the BBLSP Executive and sector boards or their equivalent
Corporate Policy
How Policy Implemented
Equality & Diversity
This service unit will carry out the timetabled Equality Impact Assessments as detailed in the Councils Inclusive Equalities Scheme, and where necessary we will assist other Service Units with their Equality Impact Assessments.
• This service unit will engage with equality self-assessment, scrutiny and audit on our service delivery.
• This Service Unit will assist where possible in the development of an information and monitoring system for the Councils work on Equality & Diversity.
• Staff within the unit will comply with Council policy for responding to harassment on the grounds of race, disability and gender.
• The service unit will engage in consultation with designated community, staff and stakeholder groups on its equality impact and needs/requirements assessment and its service delivery.
• In any partnership arrangements that this service unit enters into, we will seek to ensure that the equality policy and objectives are incorporated.
• This service unit will engage in development of service level equality objectives and targets.
• Where necessary, the service unit will establish planning groups for monitoring and information systems.
• Staff in the service unit will be encouraged to participate in equality and diversity training opportunities offered by the Council.
Data Quality
Conform to Covalent protocols
Risk management
Risks to be identified and mitigated
FOIA
Conform in line with corporate policy and protocols
Health and safety
Conform in line with corporate policy and protocols
ICT security
Conform in line with corporate policy and protocols
procurement
Conform in line with corporate policy and protocols
Data Protection Act
Conform in line with corporate policy and protocols
Service Policy
How Policy Implemented
LGA 2000
Requirement for delivery of a community strategy and plan
Service Partner Providers
How Partner Supports Service Delivery
All partners within the BBLSP
Delivery of targets within the Sustainable Community Strategy is driven entirely by the business and service plans of the partners and partnerships.
IT Systems
How IT System Supports Service Delivery
Standard office suite of systems
Mail merge and normal systems
Internet website
Website
Achievements: Previous Year & Current Year (to date)
Measure or Milestone
Reference
Target 2006/7
Actual 2006/7
Target 2007/8
Forecast2007/8
none
Success
How Achieved
Lessons Learnt
BBLSP has continued in spite of challenges and understaffing
Tenacity and additional effort from all partners
The difficulty in sustainability in the absence of adequate resources
Several schemes have been delivered
Inclusion within business and service plans of partners and through voluntary
Needs recognition that BBLSP is not a delivery vehicle
Challenge
How Resolved
Outcome
Seeking sustainable funding from partners
Resolved only by Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council funding the full time post and support services
None to date – outcome has changed in light of LGR
Drafting a sustainable community strategy for Berwick Borough
Adequate funding through staff of the BBLSP
Prospects of the sustainable community strategy being developed now that this Council has fully funded required human resource.
Financial Resources to Deliver Services
Note: This section of the report will be based on information contained in the Budget Book for the current year, in this case 2007/08. The original budget figures for the current financial year will be used as the base line figure for the calculation of cashable and efficiency gains.
Cost Centre
Description
Expense
£
Description of Main Activity & Cost
Employees
£29,818
Managing BBLSP, drafting sustainable community strategy, organising and servicing meetings of Executive, sector boards etc ; liaising with colleagues and especially in neighbouring authorities; linking in with LSP networks especially Northumberland Strategic Partnership
Employees Support
£4,691
Support Services
Service Management
Running Costs
Describe the main service running costs
Capital Charges
Gross Expenditure
£34,509
Direct Income - Grants
0
Describe income sources
Direct Income – Fees/Charges
0
Describe income sources
Recharge Income
0
Net Expenditure
£34,509
Note that full year costs, i.e. 08/09 will be £57,136
Value for Money Assessment
Efficiency Measure
BBC
Local
National
None available – budget has just been increased to account for increased need in light of LGR. Posts are time limited to expire in March 2009
Efficiency Measure
Reason for Difference to Local / National Trend
Please complete the three following tables (if applicable) indicating how partnership working, IT systems or adherence to / achievement of quality standards have contributed to value for money.
Service Partner Providers
How Partner Supports Service VFM
All partners within the BBLSP
As the BBLSP is not a delivery vehicle, all services are provided through partners. Waste is minimised
IT Systems
How IT System Supports VFM
website
Essential point of publicity
Office suite
Communications and facilitating meetings impossible without the technology
How Service Links to Council Priorities
This section contains the same information as collected in the previous year’s budget setting process. The priorities will be reviewed by the Members and either modified or confirmed as consistent (remaining the same as last year). The data provided on this document will be summarised and challenged at Corporate Management Team for content and consistency.
Priority
Description of how service contributes to Council Priority
1
Ensures synergy between council services and those provided elsewhere
2
Through the Business and Enterprise Sector Board
3
Through the Health and Wellbeing Sector Board
4
Through the Business and Enterprise Sector Board
5
6
7
Through the Culture and Heritage Sector Board
8
9
10
11
12
Through the Culture and Heritage Sector Board
Contribution to Other Five C’s
Outcome Factor
Description of how service contributes to “C” Factor
Customers
Helps by providing a framework for services delivery and creating synergy opportunities for service providers to do so efficiently
Communication
Brings together partners and aids free flow communications
Cohesion
As a partnership of partnerships, provides increased cohesion
Culture
It embeds the principles of working in partnership
Compliance
Nothing direct, although linkages with LAA are more and more important
Service Proposals for next 3 Years
Measure / Milestone
Reference
Forecast
2007/8
Target 2008/9
Target 2009/10
Target 2010/11
Preparation of sustainable community strategy for the borough
drafted
Adopted by the partnership and individual partners
refresh
Complete review
Review structure of BBLSP through Exec
To have been done
Agreed structure
implementation
review
refresh
Link up with other LSPs and especially neighbouring councils
start
Complete negotiations for joint working
achieved
Realising benefits
These targets will feed directly into the Best Value Performance Plan. Once the targets have been established and agreed (in principle) with the Head of Service or Director, an assessment of resources required should be made in the next table.
Measure / Milestone
Reference
Resources Needed
Less
Same
More
Sustainable community strategy
P
Reviewed structure
P
Linkages with LSPs
P
The achievements of these targets will be achievable within existing resources. This represents increased productivity with increased focus and the resources now made available. If savings are made then it is likely that goals will not be achieved.
No sustainable community srategy and no connection with LAA.
Impact Assessed as:
Measures of Impact
No access to funding streams. Prioritised needs not expressed
Catastrophic
Budget Code
BBLSP
Risk Assessment
Scenario
Reduction of 3%
Assigned To
.
Risk Factors
.
Likelihood Assessed as:
Financial Cost
.
Very High
Potential Effect
Jeopardise community strategy, LAA
Impact Assessed as:
Measures of Impact
Needs of the community neglected
Critical
Budget Code
BBLSP
Risk Assessment
Scenario
Reduction of 10%
Assigned To
.
Risk Factors
.
Likelihood Assessed as:
Financial Cost
.
Very High
Potential Effect
Sustainable community strategy put at risk, LAA
Impact Assessed as:
Measures of Impact
Community needs not met
Catastrophic
Proposals to reduce Cashable resource requirement by 3%
No
Description of Proposal
Value (£)
Timing
1
Making savings of three percent will jeopardise the new found determination to deliver sustainability within the limited timescales available. However, significant savings can be made in 2009/10
1,714
09/10
2
3
Proposals to reduce resource requirement by 10% (Cashable or Efficiency Effect)
