Alliance Principles
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The Welwyn Hatfield Alliance is a non-statutory, non-executive partnership which operates at a borough level, enabling strategic decisions and actions to be taken within our own community. This annual event brings together local partners from the public, private, business, community and voluntary sectors to hear a series of presentations from local partnerships. The theme of these presentations is “The challenges we face” around tackling local issues such as crime, job opportunities, education, health, housing, environment and social exclusion. Partners recognise the value of working together, especially when resources are tight, and the Alliance aims to continue harnessing the resources of partners and volunteers to improve the quality of life locally. Cllr Tony Kingsbury, Chair of the Welwyn Hatfield Alliance. ALLIANCE PRINCIPLES • Improve and enhance co-ordination of services local communities receive • Make better use of existing resources by avoiding wasteful duplication and filling gaps in services • Develop non-bureaucratic ways of working • Tackle cross cutting issues more effectively • Find new ways to involve many more people in the way their services are provided Find out more at www.welhat.gov.uk/partnerships/wh-alliance or email [email protected] THE ALLIANCE BOARD & KEY PARTNERSHIPS There is a whole range of strategic and operational partnership groups that feed into the Alliance. However there are some strategic partners that provide support and direction to enable the Alliance to develop and grow. These partners make up the Alliance Board, they are: • Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council • Voluntary & Community Sector Representative • Hertfordshire County Council • Business sector Representatives • Hertfordshire Constabulary • Oaklands College • Herts Fire and Rescue • School Education Representatives • East & North Herts Clinical Commissioning Group • Hatfield Town Council • East & North Herts NHS Trust • University of Hertfordshire In addition to the Alliance Board, there are a number of local partnership groups that feed into the Alliance. Below is a quick overview of a few of the key partnerships that are actively delivering outcomes in the local community. Welwyn Hatfield Community Safety Partnership (CSP) The (CSP) is a strategic partnership, working to reduce crime and offending in accordance with the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The partnership aims to make Welwyn Hatfield an even safer place to live. The CSP is made up of several subgroups which are all overseen by the Responsible Authorities Group (RAG). The RAG oversees the CSP’s Strategic Assessment of the borough which provides the direction of the borough’s CSP Action Plan. The Action Plan is reviewed annually and includes a number of actions agreed across the partnership with the aim to reduce crime and disorder. The Action Plan is managed and overseen by the Joint Agency Group (JAG). The partnership welcomes any partner that is working towards making this borough a safe space. Cultural Consortium The Welwyn Hatfield Cultural Consortium is an active local community partnership in the borough which brings together representatives from arts, culture, education, heritage, leisure, sports and recreational sectors to discuss projects and initiatives of mutual interest. It also networks and shares information and resources which contribute towards the quality of life for people who live, work and study here. It meets formally four times per annum and is presently chaired by the council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Communications. It’s current membership includes representatives from fifteen different organisations. Ongoing projects include its support for the Hertfordshire Year of Culture 2020 and the Welwyn Garden City Centenary also in 2020. Many of its members also participate in other initiatives ranging from the Big Summer activities programme for young people; the Summer Reading Challenge coordinated through Hertfordshire Libraries; education and heritage learning offered by the council’s Museum Service; and attending local community events to promote participation in healthy lifestyles. Welwyn Hatfield 11-19 Group This is a group that consists of representatives from organisations that work with/for young people aged 11-19. The group includes representatives from the secondary schools in the borough, as well as the local college and both universities. The group meets to discuss projects and work which is taking place in the borough for 11-19 year olds. The group is open to any individual or organisation working to improving the lives of young people within Welwyn Hatfield. Welwyn Hatfield InterFaith Group The Welwyn Hatfield InterFaith Group promotes cross-faith discussion and the delivery of social action and voluntary services for the benefit of the wider community. We meet every month. We seek to: • Bring together members of the different faiths communities in Welwyn Hatfield for deeper dialogue and cooperation • Increase understanding and trust between different faiths, recognising common ground between them and respecting the unique contributions which each brings • Promote recognition of the spiritual needs of people for the creation and maintenance of a healthy functioning society • Bring a faith perspective to bear on civic affairs, both locally and nationally • Enable and promote the work of faith groups in the delivery of social action and voluntary services for the benefit of the wider community. Community Inclusion Partnership The Community Inclusion Partnership was established to look at tackling deprivation and social exclusion throughout the borough and has brought together a wide range of partners and organisations, including local charities and voluntary organisations, local housing associations and statutory agencies. The group meets quarterly and strives to develop partnerships and share information which maximise the resources available to ensure that this borough provides equal opportunity to all. Health and Wellbeing Partnership The Health and Wellbeing Partnership provides a forum where the council and health organisations meet to share information and discuss particular issues of interest. It receives feedback from the Council Public Health Officers Interest Group. The partnership also provides sources of evidence to help inform the actions of the Public Health Interest Officers Group as well as being the central forum to discuss public health issues relevant to Welwyn Hatfield in order to ensure the council is in a position to act where necessary to address those issues. Hatfield Town Centre Forum Is a partnership of key stakeholders and businesses working towards marketing and promoting Hatfield Town Centre as a great place to shop, work and visit. The council is responsible for coordinating this forum and it is chaired by a Cabinet Member. Recently this group has developed an environmental action plan with action points to help to improve the town. The Forum provides a platform to address town wide issues and enables local businesses the opportunity to work together with other organisations to improve the town. Welwyn Garden City Business Improvement District (BID) A Business Improvement District (BID) is a not-for-profit company set up by the businesses to improve an area. It empowers local businesses to raise and spend funds within an area with the aim of improving their trading environment. It is an investment scheme where local businesses agree how their money should be invested to benefit themselves, their employees, visitors and their town. A BID is a legal body which can only come into being following a successful ballot in which all eligible businesses have a vote on whether the proposed business plan should go ahead. They do not replace local authority or police services but provide additional resource and activities to benefit the area. Welwyn Hatfield Business Forum The Welwyn Hatfield Business Forum provides an opportunity for Welwyn Hatfield based businesses and organisations with an interest in developing and growing the local economy to come together with the council to form a partnership that can steer future work and have areas of focus to promote the economic growth of the borough. The current Chair of the WelHat Business Forum is Sarah Ready from the Royal Veterinary College. Other members include representatives from Barclays Bank, The Galleria, Osborn Appointments, The Barley House Group, John O’Connor Grounds Maintenance, Alterra and Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Welwyn Hatfield Youth Council The Youth Council is open to any young person aged between 11-19 who either lives or is educated in the borough. All members are volunteers who discuss, debate and take action on the issues that matter to them. They raise awareness and run campaigns and initiatives on the issues that are important to young people in the community. They are a voice for young people within the community. They meet every week during term time and whilst the Council coordinates/manages the group they are supported by several youth led organisations including YC Herts, YMCA and Groundwork. Hatfield 2030+ Renewal Partnership The Hatfield Renewal Partnership is a dynamic partnership of key authorities, landowners and educational institutions who have come together to deliver positive change in the town in line with the shared vision: "a well-connected, distinctive and multi-centred town with a renewed ‘New Town’ pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit". This was developed with the extensive