FAQs

FAQs

1. What is NYSP ?

The North Yorkshire Strategic Partnership is a multi-agency partnership.  Its aim is to improve the social, economic and environmental well being of the county and encourage open, accessible and responsive service provision across North Yorkshire.
 
The NYSP will develop and agree a long term vision for the County and its communities, prepare a community strategy and overarching priorities that can be used to guide the use of existing and additional resources across the county. It will encourage innovation and support joint and collaborative action throughout the county which contributes to the delivery of the community strategy and the plans of the local strategic partnerships in the county.
 

2. What is a Local Area Agreement ?

A Local area agreements (LAA) is a three year agreement between central government and local partners.  Partners agree to deliver a range of outcomes and the government agrees to fund them.  The funds used are funds which previously would have come to one or other of the partners with specific instructions about how they were to be used to deliver national targets.  Under the LAA they will be pooled by partners and managed to deliver local targets in ways judged suitable locally.  The LAA therefore represents a significant incentive for stronger partnership working and offers an important change in the relationship between local partners and central government.
 
The agreement will group funding in 4 blocks – children and young people; healthy communities and older people; safer and stronger communities; and enterprise and economic development.  However, experience with agreements negotiated to date shows that the focus should be on what partners want to achieve rather than on the funding.
 
The opportunity offered by a LAA is for innovative approaches and improved partnership working rather than additional funding.  However, a proportion of the targets in the agreement will be “stretch” targets – set at a level above what would have been achieved without the agreement.  If, after the three years of the agreement are up, this stretch performance is delivered, performance reward grant will be payable.
 
In April 2005, 20 pilot LAAs started.  As a result of the experience gained in negotiating these pilots, the Government has decided to extend the initiative across all of English local government in two stages.  A second batch will begin in April 2006 and a third in April 2007.  North Yorkshire will be in the third batch.
 

3. How do I get involved in NYSP if I am not part of the Steering Group or a Partnership Group ?

The North Yorkshire Strategic Partnership comprises a Wider Partnership of all organisations wishing to contribute to its aim and objectives, supported by a smaller Partnership Board.
 
The purpose of the Wider Partnership is to engage a wide range of interested parties in the development of plans and strategies aimed at improving the economic,social and environmental wellbeing of communities in North Yorkshire.
 
The Wider Partnership will seek to achieve this engagement through twice yearly meetings.
 
It's purpose to:
  • Develop and agree a vision for North Yorkshire that will guide innovative joint working to achieve significant improvements in the social, economic and environmental well being of North Yorkshire for the benefit of all its communities to be set out in a North Yorkshire Community Strategy.
  • Secure the endorsement of the wider partnership and member agencies for the Community Strategy and its supporting programmes and for other county wide or sub-regional plans and strategies.
  • Raise awareness about other plans and strategies aimed at improving wellbeing and the issues they deal with.
  • Provide a forum for debate and discussion about current and future issues affecting the wellbeing of communities in North Yorkshire.
  • Promote understanding of the efforts of the principal agencies involved in securing economic, social and environmental wellbeing.

The wider partnership is intended to be an inclusive organisation.

4. How do I contact NYSP ?

You may contact NYSP  in several ways. You can go to the "Contact Us"  link via the home page.
 
You can write to :
 
NYSP
c/o North Yorkshire County Council
Racecourse Lane
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL7  8AD
 
or telephone 01609 780780