9th December 2009: Green flag for South Gloucestershire in new national assessment. 

South Gloucestershire has been awarded a coveted ‘green flag’ in a new national report on how well public services are working together to improve the quality of life for residents.

The Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA)found that organisations such as South Gloucestershire Council, NHS South Gloucestershire, Avon and Somerset Police and Avon Fire and Rescue Services are working well together to help ensure that the district is a great place to live and work.

South Gloucestershire is one of only a handful of areas in the South West to receive a green flag, which are given out for ‘achieving exceptional outcomes in priority areas, or something innovative, and others can learn from.’

The district was awarded the green flag for managing growth. The report stated: “The council and its partners are good at planning for and meeting the challenges posed by the area’s growth. Their combined work has brought good results. Among the achievements, growth in traffic congestion is now under control, CO2 emissions for each person living in the area are reducing, and new schools and other community facilities have been built in places where they are missing from earlier large-scale developments.”

In 2008, the South Gloucestershire Partnership agreed seven priorities they wanted to focus on for public services in the area.  These priorities form the Sustainable Community Strategy and the CAA report highlighted areas of achievement within each priority:

Being healthier: ‘Most people in South Gloucestershire are healthier than the England average. Life expectancy is above average and improving. Teenage pregnancies and childhood obesity are lower than average. The number of people who smoke is below average and more people are stopping smoking.’

Investing in children and young people: 'Children and young people in South Gloucestershire get a relatively good start in life. Services are working well together to provide well co-ordinated services. Healthy living is promoted well and the number of children who are obese is much lower than average.’

Maintaining economic prosperity: ‘The council has reduced the impact of the recession especially in priority areas by organising recession advice events to provide information about welfare and debt advice and other issues.’

Managing future development:  See above - green flag report.

Modernising health and community care services: ‘Older people have improved health and emotional well being and increased choice and control over their care. More people are receiving care to prevent hospital admissions. Public agencies are working together to respond to delays in hospital when people are fit to be discharged. More people with learning difficulties are supported to live at home and plan their own support.’

Promoting safer and stronger communities: ‘South Gloucestershire is generally a safe place to live with low and reducing rates of overall crime and most people feel safe in the area. The rate of violent crime is low. Vehicle crime and burglaries are reducing. The number of road casualties is reducing significantly and fewer people are being killed or injured on the roads than at any time since 1996.’

Valuing the environment: ‘South Gloucestershire has a high quality natural environment that sustains wildlife habitats. The council makes good use of natural resources and works well to mitigate the impact of climate change. It is reducing its own carbon foot print and has reduced water consumption, waste and business mileage. Improved weather forecasting reduces unnecessary road gritting. New public buildings, such as in Yate, are built to a high environmental standard. Remote working and flexible workstations reduces staff travel.’

South Gloucestershire Council, NHS South Gloucestershire, Avon and Somerset Police and Avon Fire and Rescue Services said (in a joint statement): “We welcome the report on how well public services in South Gloucestershire are working together to meet the needs of the people they serve. We are very pleased that the district received a green flag, with only several being awarded in the South West. We will continue our efforts to further improve services for residents, in particular where it has been highlighted more work is needed.”

The CAA is a new way of assessing how well public services work together, and replaces the Comprehensive Performance Assessment system. The CAA is jointly carried out by a group of six independent watchdogs, including the Audit Commission.

Dec 2009:  This month we have to say goodbye to Emma Collier Chief Officer of CVS South Gloucestershire.  It has been a great pleasure working with Emma who has driven forward the voluntary sector's involvment and engagement in the Partnership's work and raised the profile of that sector's contribution to achieving the vision for South Gloucestershire to be a great place to live and work.  She will be greatly missed and we wish her well for the future.  

The fourth edition of the Partnership newsletter Our News has been been published.  It includes atricles on the Partnership's new structure, the recent Local Food and Drink Festival and much more.   If you would like to contribute or would like a hard copy, please contact Sophie on 01454 863862 or at sophie.maher@southglos.gov.uk

Sept 2009:  The 3rd edition of the Partnership newsletter Our News has been been published.  The newsletter shares the work of the Partnership with a wider audience as well as giving partners an opportunity to showcase the work they do in partnership.  For hard copies or to submit articles for future newsletters, please contact Sophie Maher Research and Information Officer Strategic Partnerships Tel:  01454 863862 or sophie.maher@southglos.gov.uk

July 2009:  At it's last meeting and as a result of the recent review, the Partnership decided on its preferred governance structure option.  This preferred option will basically create a Chief Officers' Group to co-ordinate the high level planning, delivery and use of resources of the partners in relation to the partnership's work.  This will allow the Partnership (Board) to develop the long term strategic vision for the area.  A consultation on this option as detailed in a summary of the final report done by Public Management Solutions is in the process of being held and comments will be reported to the next Partnerhsip meeting in September.

At it's meeting in July, the Partnership finalised its 2008/09 Annual Report.  This highlights the achievements over the past year of the partnership as well as looking forward to challenges and issues of 2009/10.

Hello and Goodbye - thank you to Katherine Bennett of Airbus Operations Ltd for her contribution to the partnership's work over the past year and welcome to Mike Collins who is taking over her seat at the table.

The 2nd edition of the partnership newsletter has been been published.  The newsletter aims to share the work of the Partnership with a wider audience as well as giving partners an opportunity to showcase the work they do in partnership.  For hard copies or to submit articles for future newsletters, please contact Sophie Maher Research and Information Officer Strategic Partnerships Tel:  01454 863862 or sophie.maher@southglos.gov.uk

May 2009:  At its recent meeting, the Partnership welcomed Rev. Jon Doble, Director of the Churches' Council for Industrial and Social Responsibility as the new representative of faith groups in South Gloucestershire.  He takes up the baton from Roger Allen who has improved the Partnership's understanding of the work and issues of all faith groups in the area - a big thank you goes to Roger for his contribution and we wish him well in his future undertakings.

Apr 2009: The new SGP newsletter has been launched - click HERE to view.  The newsletter aims to share the work of the Partnership with a wider audience as well as giving partners an opportunity to showcase the work they do in partnership.  It is intended that this newsletter will be produced on a quarterly basis so watch out for the next edition June/July 2009.

For hard copies or to submit articles for future newsletters, please contact Sophie Maher Research and Information Officer Strategic Partnerships Tel:  01454 863862 or sophie.maher@southglos.gov.uk

Mar 2009:  Welcome to Steve Grainger Chief  Executive of Avon Wildlife Trust who is taking over the chair of the Environment Strategic Partnership from Sarah Davies of the Centre for Sustainable Energy who is on maternity leave.  Steve has been involved in the Environment Strategic Partnership for many years and will now be its representative on the South Gloucestershire Partnership.

Feb 2009:  In February, the South Gloucestershire Partnership (SGP) hosted the latest Partners’ Conference.  The Conference is an annual gathering of public, private and voluntary sector organisations involved in all aspects of life in South Gloucestershire who come together to discuss key issues of the area. 

This year, the half day event was held at BAWA in Road, Filton and was attended by nearly 100 representatives of the public, private and voluntary sectors.  The theme of the conference was how to face the challenge of future growth and to create sustainable communities in South Gloucestershire by working in partnership.

The conference was opened by South Gloucestershire Council’s Chief Executive Amanda Deeks. Professor Katie Williams the Director of the Centre for Environment and Planning at UWE (University of the West of England) followed with the keynote address.  Katie outlined the area’s growth agenda, its impact on climate change and gave some good practice examples of how sustainable communities can be created in partnership. 

After a spirited question and answer session, the Conference heard from key partners - Avon & Somerset Police, NHS South Gloucestershire, Natural England, the Council for Voluntary Services (CVS), the Federation of Small Businesses and the Corporate Equalities Forum – who each gave a three minute soundbyte on the effect that potential growth in the area will have on their sectors.

Delegates also had the opportunity to work in one of five workshops discussing the question - What can we do in partnership to achieve sustainable communities within the context of the vision and priorities of the Sustainable Community Strategy.  The key messages which came out of the workshops and which were fed back to the whole conference included

-          Infrastructure: get it in first; get it right; make sure it’s flexible .  Develop the community infrastructure alongside the physical infrastructure.  It is crucial to get transport right.

-          Engage, listen to and act upon public views.  Community development is vital to link existing and new communities.  Get young people involved.

-          Plan, especially before confirmation of the final growth numbers.  Put resources into spatial planning.  Proactive not reactive planning.

-          Develop local jobs with the infrastructure first.  Prepare for the future; develop new skills for all ages.  Improve delivery of skills through partnership of education and employment

-          Design to encourage healthy living and crime reduction; flexible, good quality buildings. Involve developers as soon as possible.

-          Identify a ‘shopping list’ for each community to help improve its sustainability

-          Build on the present partnerships but create better links between the strategic and the operational.  Keep thinking about efficient joint working and service delivery

All the ideas and discussion threads from the workshops have been fed back to the SGP and the council’s department heads and will influence the Core Strategy - the main strategic planning document for the future growth of the area.

The conference was a big success because of the core belief of all who attended - that we can get it right working together if we plan well, talk to each other and resource properly.  Everyone’s view is important, and a big thank you goes to all those who attended for their contribution.

Feb 2009:  The Audit Commssion has confirmed that South Gloucestershire Council as an authority is improving strongly.

"From an already very good level, service performance is improving faster than the year before. Improvement isfaster than average compared to other councils, especially in the council’s priorities and in nationally important services.

Educational attainment has improved significantly and services for children and young people continue to perform well. Pupils with special educational needs achieve well. Adult social care services are generally good and the Council works well with partners to reduce health inequalities and improve community safety.

The number of young people entering the youth justice system has reduced and looked after children received good care.

Recycling and composting rates have improved significantly.

There is increased support for people to claim benefits and the time to process claims has improved significantly.

Previous poor performance in processing planning applications is improving, with more efficient processes now in place.

The Council provides excellent value for money. Prospects for continuing improvement are strong with consistently good leadership, sustained commitment to improvement and effective partnership working. The Council achieved the highest rating of 4 in its recent corporate assessment."

Feb 2009: Good luck to Sarah Davies, Head of Advice, Education and Community Initiatives at the Centre for Sustainable Energy who starts her maternity leave.  Not only is she a member of the South Gloucestershire Partnership but she is also the Chair of the Environment Strategic Partnership