Corporate Register of Partnerships December 2012
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Appendix Two GRAVESHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL Corporate Register of Partnerships December 2012 Extract for the Planning Delivery Committee A summary of the partnerships the council is involved in as at December 2012 Gravesham Borough Council - 2 - Register of Partnerships – December 2012 Introduction The council maintains a comprehensive register of its partnerships that is reviewed on an annual basis. The council defines a partnership as “an agreement between the Council and one or more independent bodies to work together to achieve one or more objectives ”. In addition to this, the council also splits the partnership register into ‘Significant’ and ‘Key other partnerships’. In order for a partnership to be classified as significant it must meet the following definition: “a partnership for which there is a council resource provision of £10,000 or greater or one that is fundamental to the delivery of an area of focus within the council’s Corporate Business Plan. Without this effective partnership therefore, the delivery of Gravesham Borough Council’s key areas of focus would not occur”. All of the partnerships listed within this register are as follows: Page Ref. Significant? - 3 - Gravesend Regeneration Delivery Board - 4 - Gravesend Town Centre Initiative - 6 - Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership - 8 - North West Kent Countryside Partnership - 10 - Thames Gateway Kent Partnership - 12 - Glossary of Terms Gravesham Borough Council - 3 - Register of Partnerships – December 2012 Name of Partnership Gravesend Regeneration Delivery Board Responsible Officer S Sangha, Assistant Director (Special Projects) Lead Member(s) Councillor John Burden, Leader of the Executive Statutory Status Non-statutory partnership Aims and objectives of Regeneration within Gravesham, with a focus on the Heritage and partnership Transport Quarters Expected outcomes Promotion - and lead where appropriate -of major projects such as the Heritage & Transport Quarters and an enabling role with partners on other major regeneration schemes which include sites such as Clifton Slipways, Hospital ‘M’ Block and the old King Street Cinema site. Links to GBC Key Areas of 14 – Ensuring a sustainable high quality built and green environment and Focus safeguarding our cultural heritage 15 – Working with partners to develop high quality transport infrastructure GBC Resources A budget of £20,000 is available for the Delivery Board in 2012-13. (financial, officer, assets etc) Officer time from the Leader of the Executive, Director (Housing & Regeneration) and Assistant Director. The council does not provide any specific assets to the Partnership Partnership membership Gravesham Borough Council, Kent County Council, Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), a Community Representative, up to three representatives from multiple retailers and one local independent. Governance arrangements The governance arrangements for the partnership are set out in the Gravesham Regeneration Delivery Board Role and Operation. Specifically, the document sets out: • The responsibility of members in representing their organisations and clearly states that no member has any authority to bind the Board or other partners in any way. It also clearly states that each Board member will be accountable to the Board for the delivery of individual projects of their organisation. • The detailed membership of the Board including details of the decision-making process. The document states that it is the intention that the Board will proceed by agreement but where a vote is required, each Board member will have one vote. • The detailed arrangements for the Board in terms of the Chair and Vice-chair, frequency of Board meeting (minimum quarterly) the location of meetings (Gravesham Civic Centre) and that all meetings will be held in private. The document also covers details of the aims of the Board along with key objectives, funding, financial responsibilities and performance monitoring arrangements (detailed below) Financial reporting The finances for the Board are monitored through the council’s financial arrangements and timeframe management system. for reporting Risk Assessment Delivery of regeneration could be at risk without a delivery vehicle such as this. Performance monitoring Projects are monitored through a Risk Register where appropriate. arrangements and details of formal review of partnership arrangements. Date Partnership January 2009 Date Partnership N/A Created / Approved Terminates by Cabinet (if applicable) Significant partnership Other partnership Gravesham Borough Council - 4 - Register of Partnerships – December 2012 Name of Partnership Gravesend Town Centre Initiative (TCI) Responsible Officer Simon Hookway, Service Manager (Economic Development) Lead Member (s) Lead: Councillor John Burden, Leader of the Executive Councillor Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi also attends TCI meetings. Statutory Status Non-statutory partnership - the TCI is a ‘sounding board’ of businesses throughout the town. Aims and objectives of Maintaining a healthy town centre economy, together with its partnership physical, environmental and social well-being Expected outcomes Engagement of town centre businesses in improvements in the town centre; co-ordination of town centre activity; a programme of town centre events, including Christmas promotion, Splash of Colour/South & South East in Bloom. Links to GBC Key Areas of 13 – Driving the economic development of the borough Focus GBC Resources • Gravesham Borough Council has a budget of approximately £78,000 (financial, officer, assets etc) each year to spend on initiatives within the town centre. This is a council budget and not a budget for the TCI. This budget is offset by approximately £36,000 in contributions from businesses within the town centre. • Officer time from the, Assistant Director (Special projects), Service Manager (Economic Development) and Town Centre Manager. • There are no shared assets. Partnership membership TCI Sponsors Group - Gravesham Borough Council, St George’s Shopping Centre, Marks & Spencer, Boots The Chemists, McDonalds, St George’s Church, Kent County Council and Kent Police. In addition, representatives from other businesses within the borough are invited to attend. Governance arrangements The TCI Sponsors Group is chaired by the Assistant Director (Special projects) from Gravesham Borough Council. The TCI Sponsors Group meets at two monthly intervals with meetings being held at TownCentric. Officers from Gravesham Borough Council provide the administrative support to the group (i.e. agenda setting, minute taking etc.). The agendas follow a similar format and cover the following key areas: • Update from businesses on general town centre issues. • Update from Gravesham Borough Council on promotional work and any projects within the town centre. • Community Safety updates for the town centre In addition, specific agencies attend when required to provide presentations on other initiatives that may affect the town centre. Financial reporting The annual budget for the council is agreed through Gravesham Borough arrangements and timeframe Council’s normal budget setting process and monitored accordingly. The for reporting TCI has no decision making powers in terms of how the budget is spend. The council’s overall budget is offset by additional sponsorship income received from the key businesses in the Town Centre (Boots the Chemist, Marks and Spencer and St George’s Shopping Centre). In addition, other contributions are received for specific projects within the town centre throughout the year. The council provides a formal letter to the main sponsors on the achievements and initiatives undertaken by the TCI during the year, in order for the sponsors to then provide their sponsorship money. Risk Assessment Activity and initiatives are highly dependent on sponsorship from town centre businesses; the budget is monitored regularly to ensure that initiatives can take place as required. Gravesham Borough Council - 5 - Register of Partnerships – December 2012 Performance monitoring Performance in respect of the initiatives and projects is monitored and arrangements and details of reported to the TCI Sponsors Group at each meeting. In addition, a formal formal review of partnership letter is sent to each of the main TCI sponsors to highlight achievements arrangements. and initiatives for the year. A formal review of the arrangements for the TCI arrangements would need to take place through Gravesham Borough Council as lead partner in consultation with other partners. Date Partnership Created in the early 1990s. Date Partnership N/A Created / Approved Terminates by Cabinet (if applicable) Significant partnership Other partnership Gravesham Borough Council - 6 - Register of Partnerships – December 2012 Name of Partnership Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership Responsible Officer Sue Lord, Service Manager (Regeneration and Policy) Lead Member(s) Councillor Lee Croxton, Lead Member for Planning Delivery Statutory Status Statutory Partnership Aims and objectives of To secure the conservation and enhancement of the Kent Downs AONB partnership whilst supporting the social and economic wellbeing of its communities. Objectives: (1) to help realise the strategic vision for the Kent Downs AONB, and to oversee the Kent Downs AONB Management Plan. (2) to provide advice to those of its members with statutory responsibilities for the effective management of the Kent Downs AONB. Expected outcomes (1) a secure and