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Challenge themes - shortlisted applicants presentation videos

Peer challenge panel stage

The shortlisted applicants for the ‘achieving more through partnership’ theme covered a wide range of partnerships and service areas.

Any local partnership could apply but they had to demonstrate that their achievements and outcomes relate to the 20 most popular Local Area Agreements (LAA) indicators and public service outcomes.

This was a popular theme and six applications were shortlisted by a group of central and local government experts.

Each of the shortlisted applicants presented to the ‘peer challenge panel’ in Birmingham, a group of judges with expertise and experience in a wide range of fields and sectors. The 'peer challenge panel' presentations were held in January 2010.

Dame Denise Platt, the Chair of the Independent Advisory Panel for the Local Innovation Awards Scheme (LIA Scheme), chaired the 'peer challenge panel'. Other members of the panel were:

Councillor Peter Fleming, Sevenoaks District Council and a member of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Improvement Board
Helen Johnston, LGA
Jack Hegarty, Wychavon District Council
June Goodson-Moore, NHS Leeds
Katy Baldwin, Communities and Local Government (CLG)
Nick Keane, National Police Improvement Authority (NPIA)
Steve McGuirk, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

A small audience observed the peer challenge panel, including representatives of West Midland’s Regional Improvement Partnership (RIEP), central and local government officers, and new members of the Independent Advisory Panel for the LIA scheme.

Each applicant gave a fifteen minute presentation to the panel, followed by 30 minutes of question and answer. Unfortunately, extreme weather conditions in January meant two of the applicants were not able to send their teams to meet the panel in person, and instead joined the session by telephone.

NB. The Independent Advisory Panel for the LIA Scheme was abolished in October 2010 - find out more about the abolition of the Panel.

Videos of the shortlisted applicants

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and partners - working together to improve the lives of the most vulnerable

The presentation included a short film about the work of the fire service. It also set the context of high levels of deprivation in Merseyside, and the contrast between the fire service of ten years ago and where they are today.

The presenters explained that smoking and alcohol are contributory factors in fire deaths, so tackling these issues does not just contribute to better health but also helps key fire targets.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services’ work to tackle anti-social behaviour was also covered, and featured their work with schools, and the use of sport to reach young people.

Watch Merseyside's peer challenge presentation - part one

Watch Merseyside's peer challenge presentation - part two

Watch clips from Merseyside's question and answer session with the peer challenge panel

Gateshead Council and partners - Neighbourhood pride

The presenters were unable to attend in person and joined the peer challenge by phone.

The presentation covered the Neighbourhood Pride project and the focus on community engagement. Notable achievements include the ‘UP2U project’ on participatory budgeting, high levels of satisfaction from residents and engagement of schools.

The presentation included examples of environmental improvements, with before and after photos; Thorneygarth, one of the examples covered is now well used by the community, for example as an outside classroom.

The Neighbourhood Pride project has moved well beyond the pilot stage and is well established and embedded in service delivery.

Watch Gateshead's peer challenge presentation - part one

Watch Gateshead's peer challenge presentation - part two

Watch clips from Gateshead's question and answer session with the peer challenge panel

Cheshire East – Cheshire East Domestic Abuse Partnership

In a moving presentation, the presenters read out comments and experiences from survivors of domestic abuse and organisations involved in the partnership, for example a local solicitor.

Visual materials and a soundtrack gave the panel an impression of the ‘Labyrinth’, an art work that tells the story of domestic abuse from a user’s experience.

The team talked about innovation, and explained that as their approach is based on best practice there will be common ground between them and other areas.

Cheshire see their main strength as being the way they do things, which was explored in the presentation and the question and answer session.

Watch Cheshire East's peer challenge presentation - part one

Watch Cheshire East's peer challenge presentation - part two

Watch clips from Cheshire East's question and answer session with the peer challenge panel

London Borough of Tower Hamlets – smoking cessation

The Health Service and the council are joint partners in the smoking cessation programme. The presentation included some context for Tower Hamlets and the impact of smoking. There is a clear strategic framework and a three year strategy, which was explained by the presenters.

The presenters went on to cover aspects of their smoking cessation programme including social marketing, services tailored to users and faith settings, and targeting construction workers with a 'bob the builder' campaign.

The presentation and question and answers covered the use of research, the evidence base and potential savings.

Watch Tower Hamlets' peer challenge presentation - part one

Watch Tower Hamlets' peer challenge presentation - part two

Watch clips from Tower Hamlets' question and answer session with the peer challenge panel

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council – Better Health at Work partnership

The presenters were unable to attend in person and joined the peer challenge by phone.

The Better Health at Work partnership began in 2005 after discussions with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on Local Public Service Agreements (LPSA) or ‘stretch’ targets.

There is a strong focus on preventative work, and stopping people from going on to incapacity benefit in the first place. The aim was to bring people, health and work together and play to the strengths of each partner.

Health, through the Primary Care Trust (PCT), has played an important role in the partnership, for example getting GPs on board.

The presentation and the question and answers explored the impact of poor health on the economy, both nationally and locally to Kirklees.

Watch Kirklees' peer challenge presentation - part one

Watch Kirklees' peer challenge presentation - part two

Watch clips from Kirklees' question and answer session with the peer challenge panel

Northumberland Council - Rothbury Fire Station and Children’s centre

The team used their presentation to cover some facts and figures about the rural area of Rothbury and its new shared fire station and children’s centre. The presentation included photos of the site and the story of its development.

Behind this there is a strong partnership between the fire service and the council’s Children’s Services department.

The presenters explained the sort of service they offer at the centre, for example training people on the safe fitting of child seats. The children’s centre is also used as a touch down area for a range of services that would otherwise struggle to cover the rural area.

The presentation and the question and answers explored some of the practical issues in bringing a fire station and a children’s centre together under one roof.

Watch Northumberland's peer challenge presentation - part one

Watch Northumberland's peer challenge presentation - part two

Watch clips from Northumberland's question and answer session with the peer challenge panel