What are the Hastings Local Strategic Partnership's terms of reference?

This is the constitution of the Hastings and St. Leonards Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).

This constitution does not change, replace, substitute or amend in any way the statutory duties or other responsibilities of partners.

It does not change, replace, substitute or amend in any way partners organisations' own management or accountability frameworks, or prevent any individual partners' organisation from pursuing its own individual actions.

Local Strategic Partnership members shall work together and individually in the spirit of trust, fairness and mutual co-operation.  The work of the partnership is rooted in a spirit of cooperation and we affirm the value of acting in partnership with others to improve the lives of those who work and live in Hastings.

Roles and Authority

The main general role of all Members of the Partnership will be to take a town-wide perspective and to develop consensus in the best interests of the town as a whole.

Members will be recognised for their valuable contribution in bringing ideas, knowledge and expertise to the process.

Whilst recognising that decisions about the use of resources will still remain the preserve of individual partners, there is a need to establish consensus endorsement of strategic issues, while encouraging opportunities for better ways of working, joint working, delegation and joint or shared resources where appropriate. Members will need the appropriate authority to speak on behalf of their relevant organisations (proportionate to their role within the organisation).

Legal Status

The LSP is an informal partnership. It does not have legal status to enter into contracts and will act through partner organisations as appropriate.

Hastings Borough Council will act as the Accountable Body for financial matters on behalf of the LSP. All accounting arrangements will be made under the supervision of the Head of Corporate and Democratic Services.

Key Tasks

• Be Strategic, Representative and Effective
• Identify and report strategic issues, which the Hastings and St Leonards Local Strategic Partnership should be aware of
• Provide strategic leadership on any Borough wide issue, identified by partners and agreed by the LSP, where no other appropriate existing organisation or partnership can be identified
• Act to bring together intelligence, expertise and community and business support to identify priorities and develop solutions to maximise the town's  economic opportunities and address barriers to regeneration
• Motivate partners to look for new ways to improve 
• Ask challenging questions about and scrutinise performance
• Deal honestly and robustly with under-performance
• Minimise bureaucracy and build upon existing structures - helping to demonstrate that we have reduced and not added to the 'bureaucratic burden'
• Focus on the needs of the whole Borough, with an inclusive concern for all citizens, especially the marginalised and disadvantaged
• Consider what is in the best interests for the common good of Hastings and St. Leonards and weigh this along with the interests of individual organisations on the Board and their sector when making decisions.

LSP Membership

• The LSP will consist of senior representatives from those organisations playing a lead role in the town. 
• The composition of the Board will be as inclusive as practicable covering a full range of "key players" balancing this with a realistic maximum size of partnership necessary for it to be effective and strategic.
• The Board will need to secure the involvement of all the appropriate key players, including the public, private, community and voluntary sectors. This should allow engagement of residents, community, other public sector and business interests that cannot be represented directly on the Local Strategic Partnership.
• Each member of the Board can name one alternate to attend in his / her place.
• LSP Board members agree to champion and communicate the partnership arrangements of the LSP throughout their organisation, partnership and sector.
• If a member of the LSP changes to a different employer or loses his or her position, then their membership of the LSP will automatically cease with immediate effect.

Members will be identified within categories:

Public Sector (13)

Hastings Borough Council (2)

• Leader
• Leader of the Opposition

East Sussex County Council (2)

• Cabinet Member
• Chief Executive (or Director-level nominee)

Seachange Sussex (1)
Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Rep (1)
East Sussex College Group (1)
Education Futures Trust (1)
Optivo (1)
Orbit (1)
Sussex Police (1)
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (1)
Department for Work and Pensions (1)

Business Sector (3)

Let's Do Business (1)
Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce (2)

Community and Voluntary Sector (6)

Hastings Community Network (6)

TOTAL 22

Chairing Arrangements

The Chair of the LSP rotates every two years between the public sector, the voluntary & community sector and the business sector.

The role of the Chair is to Chair and manage the meetings of the LSP Board, creating an environment where all members are able to make a full contribution to the LSP's business.

The Chair is supported by Vice-chairs from the two other sectors. The Vice Chair(s) can deputise for the Chair as and when required.

The Council's Corporate and Democratic Services team will provide policy and secretariat support to the LSP Board.