The Council plays a key role in a number of partnership projects such as the Clean and Safe Charter, the revitalisation of Sandy Lane Industrial Estate and establishing Police Bases. These have delivered real outcomes for the community in terms of reducing crime, improving neighbourhood cleanliness and creating jobs. Joint working arrangements with voluntary groups, such as Friends of Parks and voluntary play or sporting organisations, have resulted in successful external funding being raised to improve services and facilities across the District.
We are one of the leading organisations within the Local Strategic Partnership ‘Wyre Forest Matters’ whose Sustainable Community Strategy includes the following six themes:
- Communities that are safe and feel safe
- A Better environment for today and tomorrow
- Economic success shared by all
- Improve health and well-being
- Meeting the needs of children and young people
- Stronger Communities
Other key partnerships include the Community Safety Partnership,
Stourport Forward, Town Centre Partnerships and neighbourhood partnerships such
the Oldington and Foley Park Pathfinder and the Horsefair, Broadwaters and Greenhill Partnership.
We work closely with colleagues from our County, Parish and Town Councils, as well as neighbouring District Councils on a number of joint initiatives. By pooling resources, we are able to reduce costs and raise the consistency of services across the area. A key example is the Worcestershire Hub, which provides access to information from a network of customer service centres across the Council.
Voluntary Sector and Community Sector
We also recognise the importance of developing interaction and relationships with voluntary and community sectors. They play an important role in providing services, involving and mobilising volunteers and reaching vulnerable groups or people who may face barriers to using services.
Find out how the Council works in partnership with the voluntary and community sectors by reading our brochures:
The
Worcestershire Partnership Compact - Summary Version (179K)
The Worcestershire Partnership Compact - Full Version (615K)
Partnership Framework
Wyre Forest District Council is committed to working with partners
and recognises the value of effective partnerships in contributing to the well-being of our local communities and the delivery
of its strategic priorities.
Flexibility, innovation and many other benefits allow partnerships to address issues
that individual organisations could not tackle alone. However, entering and participating in partnerships must be based on
a sound understanding of the risks, challenges and anticipated benefits involved.
The Council has therefore developed
a partnership framework to ensure we are clear on all aspects of partnership working and the added benefits it achieves.
There are five main elements to the framework, as follows:
| 1. A Partnership Assessment Checklist This document assesses whether it is appropriate for the Council to set up or join a partnership. |
| 2. Partnership Progress Reports Officers on partnerships submit six and twelve monthly reports so the effectiveness of the Council's participation and resource expenditure can be monitored. |
| 3. Evaluation
Framework Annually all partnerships evaluate their performance and the added value that the Council is gaining from being a partner and to also share any best practice and learning. |
| 4. Termination
of Partnership Form In circumstances where the Council's participation in a partnership comes to an end, officers must report this in order to provide a complete audit trail of the reasons why the Council is no longer engaged in the partnership. |
| 5. Central database register of all partnerships that Council Officers are involved in Information regarding Council involvement in partnerships is held on a central register. |
