Focus on Yorkshire and Humber

Local authorities are leading the way in developing sector-led improvement across the region, writes Cllr Roger Stone

Local government is facing some of its biggest ever challenges with public-sector spending cuts and efficiency targets changing the way in which local authorities and their partners have traditionally operated.

Across Yorkshire and Humber we are embracing these challenges through sector-led improvement and cross-partner collaboration and support. This is creating real efficiencies and delivering better services for local people.

Local Government Yorkshire and Humber (LGYH) and YoHr Space both work closely with councils and their partners to support this collaboration.

LGYH is the regional partnership of local authorities, including fire, police and national park authorities and YoHr Space is the region’s improvement and efficiency partnership (RIEP), hosted by LGYH. Both are sector-led organisations made up of local authority leaders and chief executives as well as representatives from the wider public sector.

Collaboration As

chair of both LGYH and YoHr Space, I have met with each of the region’s local authority leaders and chief executives to encourage open discussion, collaboration and challenge. These meetings help build strong cross-party support which is fundamental to sector-led challenge.

The region’s authorities recognise we are responsible for our own improvement and realise that this can best be achieved by working together. The mutuality statement and improvement framework we have developed sets us apart.

The 22 local authorities that make up LGYH are committed to working together by offering and receiving support as well as providing peer challenge. Importantly, this commitment is being extended to the police, fire and rescue service (pictured) and health authorities. This will better equip us for taking on future initiatives such as Total Place.

Through the improvement framework, YoHr Space, the Improvement and Development Agency, local improvement advisers and councils are able to offer help, advice, guidance and practical support. For example, the regional network for directors of children’s services provides peer support for authorities that are facing particular performance challenges.

The network is currently working with the Yorkshire and Humber RIEP to develop a peer support package focused on improving children’s safeguarding services across the region.

Improving performance

The first comprehensive area assessment results have identified that over 90% of Yorkshire and Humber local authorities are performing well or adequately. Local authorities were awarded seven green flags, from which learning and best practice are being shared. However, the region also received a number of red flags highlighting services requiring action to improve.

The improvement framework is a way for councils and their partners to tackle areas requiring additional action, through a comprehensive framework of support including peer to peer exchanges and local improvement adviser assignments.

The framework follows the development by LGYH members of a 12-point economic pledge in 2008. This demonstrated the flexibility and responsiveness of each local authority to offer housing, jobs, cash flow and contract opportunities to residents and businesses, focusing on those most in need.

Strong leadership is essential to the success of regional collaboration. LGYH and YoHr Space have both identified this and support member development, including lead member support and development for children and adult services; tailored support for member development officers; and working with West Yorkshire police authority and fire and rescue services’ member development.

Both YoHr Space and LGYH are committed to the concept of sector-led improvement. Together we will continue to work with councils, their partners and other support organisations to ensure that our sector-led improvement support is able and flexible to respond to the challenges our authorities face.

• Cllr Roger Stone is chair of LGYH and YoHr Space and leader of Rotherham metropolitan borough council