Wakefield Council In Line For New Beacon Award
5th October 2007
Wakefield Council has been shortlisted as a beacon for other authorities across the country.
It has been singled out for its work in developing its Local Strategic Partnership and its Local Area Agreement with the government.
The achievement recognises the excellent partnership work being done in the district.
The council is already a national beacon authority for its engagement with young people and its procurement of public services.
Cllr Peter Box said:
“I am delighted that we have been short listed for a third Beacon Council award. It is a real credit to the strength of the work we are doing in the district.
“Being recognised as a beacon council shows we are leaders in a particular field and have knowledge and experience to share with other councils.”
The next stage in the Beacon process is an assessment visit next month by a team of specialists, followed by a presentation to the Beacon Panel in London before the panel announces its final decision in March 2008.
In the initial feedback, the Beacon Panel recognised the strengths of the council’s work with partners, including engaging and empowering local communities, evidenced based and performance-managed approaches to setting and achieving objectives and commitment to the continuous development of partnerships and good practice.
Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) have been established in all parts of the country to bring together the key organisations to improve services and quality of life in their area.
The Wakefield District Partnership is a LSP and includes the Council, police, Wakefield College, Primary Care Trust, and voluntary, community and business sector representatives.
The local Area Agreement (LAA) sets out what improvements the partnership is aiming to make in the district up to 2009 through different organisations pooling resources.
It is making significant progress in reducing homelessness, reducing crime, increasing employment and improving the environment.
