Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) are a relatively new innovation designed to improve how services are delivered to the public and how local areas are regenerated not only within Cornwall but across England.

The services covered by LSPs are wide-ranging and includes major services such as education, health, housing, police and waste collection and recycling.

In addition, it includes small scale services such as those provided by community and voluntary groups, and neighbourhood renewal schemes. Are these services good? Are they what the people need? Is there a vision for local improvements as a whole? The government wants to have a better system for planning services - a "grand plan" for every area. This is where LSPs come in.

The government wants local people to have better services by getting more of a chance to say what they want. They could also help deliver them. It is hard to get everyone involved. It's a lot easier if you start with the community's existing groups.

Penwith and Kerrier's LSP is called West Cornwall Together (WCT). This partnership brings all existing plans for local services together and tries to obtain as much agreement as possible to the grand plan, called the 'Community Strategy'.

WCT includes people representing public services, local businesses, community groups and residents. WCT does two things - plan existing services better and set out a vision for the future.

Life can be improved in all areas if local people's ideas are brought in to influence things, especially in deprived neighbourhoods. This is why it is crucial that communities are involved and given the support in order to have a strong voice when decisions are made.

		NRU Homepage (Neighbourhood Renewal Unit)
		ODPM Homepage (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)