Members’ Development

Regional Elected Member Development Programme

Working Effectively with the Community - The aim of the ‘Working with the Community' (or Outcomes Based Accountability) is to offer members and officers the opportunity to undertake a ‘Turning the Curve' exercise to identify new ideas, partnership solutions and to accelerate achievement against a given indicator or ‘hot' issue. ‘Turning the Curve' concentrates on moving from talk to action and on achieving outcomes rather than outputs.

• East Lindsey Outcomes Based Accountability Workshop
Statistics show that the level of employment deprivation is higher in the coastal region. As a result the LSP agreed to focus efforts on improving economic prosperity and skills in the local population that will impact on areas such as health, that are linked with overall deprivation. Following this piece of work the LSP decided to create a refreshed group that will make links with a range of other agencies and agree on some added value activity and outcomes.
 
• South Northamptonshire Outcomes Based Accountability Workshop
A good mix of residents, parish councillors and service providers in rural areas joined in the discussion at South Northamptonshire LSP's ‘A Sustainable Rural Economy' workshop. Their challenge was to reduce working age unemployment, reduce out-commuting levels and to increase the take-up of training and business support services. The outcomes of the workshop which included supporting self employment/small businesses; improving access to employment/training for Young People and increasing Broadband Access will be fed into the Rural Sustainability theme of the Economic Development Strategy. These key actions will enable better provision and exchange of information and advice.

This free workshop provided structure, challenge and focus to a group that had not worked together before. The exercise provided the opportunity to involve new partners who are now keen to maintain their involvement with the Local Strategic Partnership. The Executive Board noted the positive outcomes of this methodology, and recommended that other specialist networks consider testing their priorities and outcomes using this tool.