Partnership is not good for all

Joining a three-council partnership has not been universally welcomed by all staff and elected members, a report reveals.

A survey conducted on members and officers at all three authorities reveals one thought the only benefit was ‘having a longer name.’
South Holland joined with Boston Borough and East Lindsey a year ago to form the South and East Lincolnshire Partnership. The move was heralded as saving £42m over ten years and having a greater voice.
But members of the Joint Scrutiny Task and Finish Group were told that aside from a longer name; ‘as far as we can see so far our services have got much worse,’ said an East Lindsey respondent.
“Officers cannot be contacted without a lot of delay, they have little knowledge of background to issues,” the report says.
A response from South Holland says middle managers and junior staff “appear overwhelmed with work.”
“I’ve not seen any evidence of this partnership being the success that was promised,” it says.
Another respondent from South Holland said: “Not a positive from SH.”
The final report of the Joint Scrutiny Panel says there is ‘widespread support and satisfaction in the direction the partnership is travelling,’ but added it had to work harder to ‘develop a single organisational culture.’
“There are still significant barriers preventing progress in this. These include the integration of ICT (information and communication technology).”
The lack of joined-up software was raised a number of times within the survey.
“Staff are unable to access different IT systems at partner offices,” the report says.
Communications need to improve, including more ‘targeted and relevant communication to the public.’
The survey also had a good number of positive responses, including those praising the group’s higher profile as a sub-region.
“The partnership is having more success at grant funding due to the coverage,” says a respondent.
“The ability to have a louder voice when lobbying, applying for funding or talking to investors,” says another.