Local Strategic Partnerships
12.36 A Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) is a single non-statutory body designed to help people in a specific area work together in the running and delivery of public services. This is done by bringing together key service providers from the public sector with the private, business, community and voluntary sectors.
LSPs are generally aligned with local authority boundaries, and are expected to:
- take many of the major decisions about priorities and funding, with the aim of improving the economic, social and environmental well-being of an area
- bring together and, where possible, streamline the number of local plans, partnerships and initiatives, improving linkages and simplifying arrangements
- help develop and drive the implementation of community strategies and Local Area Agreements (LAAs, see the next section for more information), including developing partnerships to deliver better public service outcomes.
12.37 The 2006 Local Government White Paper sought to improve the accountability of LSPs to local people by strengthening the involvement of elected members in executive and scrutiny roles. It also included plans to increase the effectiveness of the representation of local third sector bodies on LSPs.
To find out more, see the Communities & Local Government LSP web page.