Consultation paper: Future role of the Manchester Board

The Manchester Partnership has been operating within an evolving policy and governance context for some time, and there are now a number of issues which together merit a review of the role of the Manchester Board and how this sits within the wider partnership arrangements.

Partnership working has changed considerably over the last few years, and whilst the Board continues to have the flexibility to set partnership arrangements according to local needs, there has been a move away from a statutory framework with national targets. The nature of partnership working has also moved on from coming together to agree shared priorities towards ensuring that the right mechanisms are in place to ensure their delivery.

Both Manchester and Greater Manchester partnership arrangements have evolved further since the last review of the Manchester Partnership in 2011. In particular at a Greater Manchester level a number of levers of delivery have changed. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority, set up in 2011, has now become established, and the Board are taking forward the implementation of a package of measures of devolution to Greater Manchester as agreed through the City Deal. The Board also have a focus on work around public service reform, including the Greater Manchester Community Budgets pilot. It is important that the Board are mindful of the links between partnerships at both Manchester and Greater Manchester levels, and that the Manchester arrangements are providing added value.

The Board also recognise that in the current economic and fiscal environment the Board need to focus their efforts both on investment in growth and reducing dependency through early intervention and integrated delivery and commissioning. To reflect these changes the Community Strategy has been refreshed during the past year to reaffirm their shared vision for the city and their three overarching priorities around Growth, People and Place, underpinned by the delivery plan. Linked to this it is also crucial that within the current economic and financial climate their arrangements make the best use of the expertise and capacity of partners across the city.

Partners are invited to comment on the issues outlined in the paper, either through partnership meetings or by submitting a response directly to the Partnership team at: [email protected]

The deadline for responses is Friday 11 October 2013.