Cumbria Strategic Partnership : Partnership Information : FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an LSP?
The formation of Local Strategic Partnerships was encouraged in the Local Government Act 2000, which required all Local Authorities to produce a Community Strategy with a range of partners. An LSP is a way of bringing councils together with other local organisations like businesses, and community, to plan for the future of their area. This involves agreeing a set of actions which all organisations think are important and on which they need to work together to tackle like jobs, health and the environment. In Cumbria there are 5 Local Strategic Partnerships which reflect the district/borough Councils with the exception of West Cumbria Strategic Partnership which spans both Allerdale and Copeland. The other partnerships are Furness Partnership, Eden LSP, Carlisle LSP and South Lakeland. The Cumbria Strategic Partnership is a County-wide LSP.

What is the CSP?
Cumbria Strategic Partnership (CSP) brings together a range of countywide organisations from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors across the county to lead on the development of a common vision for Cumbria. Importantly, membership also includes the five LSPs and the District/Borough Councils. The CSP aims to influence policy development at a regional and national level using the Sub Regional Strategy to set out agreed shared priorities. This strategy also influences individual partner organisations, helping ensure their business planning and budgets align throughout the county, minimising duplication and maximising effectiveness in achieving shared objectives.

When was it formed?
In 2001, because of strong and universal support from a wide range of Cumbrian organisations who felt that the County needed a forum that could engage effectively with fast moving national, regional and local agendas. This approach recognises the need to minimise duplication and maximise opportunities for cross-sectoral working. In November 2001 a shadow meeting was held to discuss the possibility of a Strategic Partnership for the whole of Cumbria and the first meeting of the new Cumbria Strategic Partnership took place in January 2002.

How are the different sectors represented?
The Partnership is be made up of representatives of the local authority sector (the County Council and the District/Borough Councils) the Local Strategic Partnerships and other strategic public, private, voluntary and community organisations. Individual representatives who attend CSP meetings do so on the understanding that they are there to represent the interests and views of their sector which may be larger that their own host organisation.

Is this just another talking shop?
The CSP is a place where organisations across Cumbria can talk over their shared priorities, pressures and concerns. It’s the only opportunity many people have to come together in this way and make sure, as far as possible; they’re all pulling in the same direction. This high level engagement and agreement has led to the development of a community strategy, Sustainable Cumbria for the county which provides an essential framework now used to influence policy development, both regionally and nationally. Cumbria’s community strategy is also instrumental in encouraging the alignment of individual organisations’ business plans and budgets, helping them work together towards the agreed shared objectives.

Is the Partnership part of CCC?
Cumbria County Council plays an important role in the support and management of activities of the CSP. The support team members are employees of Cumbria County Council and are based in the CSP’s own office at Redhills, near Penrith. Cumbria County Council is also an important partner of the CSP, and is the lead organisation for delivering against several actions which will impact on the shared objectives in the Sub Regional Strategy.

Why are there so many partnerships?
At its best, partnership working can be the best way to achieve efficient and coherent services, Many of the big issues facing Cumbria cannot be tackled by single organisations acting in isolation, for instance how to create more and better jobs or how to reduce the amount of waste we generate etc. Many partnerships have been formed to focus on a specific issue, for example the Cumbria Sports Partnership focuses on sport and physical activity within Cumbria. Because of the CSP, all policy activity is now aligned on a County-wide basis and the CSP provides the forum to join up activities, through the development of Thematic Partnerships.

How much does the partnership cost?
Cumbria County Council provides a small budget as the host organisation which covers the cost of three staff members, running the office and hosting meetings. The CSP is not an accountable body nor does it allocate funds. The role of the CSP is to influence the spending of partner organisations to better impact on shared priorities.