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On this page you can see what our Chair has to say about the Public Service Board and read about the most recent things that we've been talking about.
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| 17/03/2010 |
A few words from the Chair
Public Service Board is the Partnership's most senior decision-making body. We are responsible for ensuring that the Partnership is delivering for the people of the borough, that we are using our resources effectively and that we are looking ahead to the future challenges that must be met.
What are we talking about?
Meeting - 17/03/2010
At its 17 March meeting, Public Service Board worked through a packed agenda that took in many different aspects of the Partnership's work.
Starting with a review of the Stronger Borough Board's progress, PSB noted that the Board had become well-established and was delivering on a portfolio of solid projects aimed at strengthening community ties in the borough, increasing volunteering and engaging the third sector. As part of this, the Board reviewed progress on the Place Survey indicators for which we recently undertook an 'interim' local Place Survey (the full survey happens every two years so it was felt important to keep up with progress). Whilst broadly positive, Public Service Board noted some areas where there were still risks, but also noted how difficult it is to predict the outcome of these 'perception-based' indicators.
A presentation on the Health4NEL consultation, currently underway, led to a discussion about the future configuration of health services in Barking & Dagenham, and particularly the new Barking Community Hospital.
Public Service Board also heard from the Independent Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children Board, Simon Hart, who ran PSB through the key matters arising in the Board's 2008/09 Annual Report. This followed a similar process last year, in which the Chair raised points about domestic violence, parental mental health, safer recruitment and commissioning, which led to various pieces of work being undertaken through the Partnership, some of which are still on-going. This is an important mechansim by which the LSCB can reinforce its messages to the key public, private and third sector agencies across the Partnership about important areas that need improving in local safeguarding practices.
The draft version of the Governance Framework was also discussed, and Public Service Board's views were gathered on some of the key issues that had arisen during consultation. The Board noted that they have a morning session scheduled in late April at which some firm decisions can be made about the future functioning of the Partnership, with PSB wanting to see the Partnership less reliant on weighty agendas and more focused on getting partners together to really engage with some of the big issues facing the borough.
Finally, there was a discussion, and ultimate ratification, of the renegotiated LAA targets, following a couple of months of discussion by lead officers with our Government Office for London lead, Ana Cavilla. The refreshed indicators are now available on the website.