LSP Meeting Goes Online

Published on 30 June 2009

The co-ordinating group for local services, Epping Forest Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), met on 9 June 2009. It was the first board meeting broadcast live via the Council’s website. Due to the LSP’s commitment to openness, transparency and increasing accountability, all their meetings will now be available to view live online and afterwards.

• Visit the Epping Forest LSP website

• Watch the LSP Board webcast on 9 June 2009

The initial results of a large residents’ satisfaction survey were reported to members of the LSP with 87% of residents describing themselves as satisfied living in the district. Respondents were also asked about priority areas for improvement and satisfaction with public services. In addition, a new Community Strategy Plan to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Epping Forest was given the green light replacing the one developed in 2003. When this Plan is complete, it will guide the work of the LSP and the work of the partners individually over the next ten years.

Continuing work on setting up a single Citizens’ Panel consisting of 100 residents from the district was agreed. Members of the Panel would be invited to take part in consultations for all LSP partners. A single partnership magazine to provide information about all the partners will be produced to sent to every home in the district.

The Safer Communities Team presented reports to the LSP Board showing that, overall, crime has fallen 8% (May 2008 to April 2009) and they continue to run crime initiatives with young people across the district. Enhanced CCTV and programmes to tackle burglary and make people feel safer, central to the community safety initiatives, is one of the schemes being funded by £450,000 secured by the LSP in April. Projects to tackle transport difficulties for key groups have also begun.

An initial report was submitted by the new task and finish panel, set up to tackle the Credit Crunch. They have collected data from Jobcentre Plus, the CAB and Epping Forest College to show what is really happening locally and produced a leaflet containing details of useful service providers. Some members of the LSP raised concerns about potential changes to children’s services in the district. If the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) covers an area greater than the Epping Forest district, local schools may not have a say and funding may be reduced.

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