Last edited 24 Mar 2015

Local strategic partnership LSP

The Local Government Act 2000, Part 1, Section 4, ‘Strategies for promoting well-being’ requires that local authorities in England prepare a strategy to co-ordinate the public, private, voluntary and community sectors for promoting or improving the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development. The Act refers to this as a ‘community strategy’, although local authorities may describe it as a ‘sustainable communities strategy’ or a ‘community plan’.

Community strategies may be prepared, implemented and monitored by Local Strategic Partnerships (LSP). These are generally non-statutory, non-executive, multi-agency bodies that bridge the gap between the community and strategic decision makers, bringing together the public, private, voluntary and community sectors to help integrate initiatives and shape service provision in their area.

Local Strategic Partnerships are considered to be helpful in bringing a wider section of the community into the local decision-making process, and working beyond the often short-term approach of business and politicians to deliver better co-ordinated services.

NB the Deregulation Bill proposes removing the duty for local authorities to prepare a community strategy, giving them the freedom to decide whether or not a community strategy is needed for their area.