LSP calls for report on the end of funding to Syke Community Base

The Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Executive will consider, at its next meeting on the 22 January, the process followed in relation to the funding allocated to a number of projects which includes Syke Community Base.

After a week of allegations about Rochdale Borough’s LSP, the Chairman of the LSP Board, Mohammad Naeem, has called for a report to be considered at the next LSP Executive meeting.

“There is clearly a real need to get accurate information out about Rochdale Borough’s LSP and the way in which decisions are made around funding projects” said Mr Naeem.

“However, it should be clear that the role of the LSP Board and Executive will only be examining whether the process to make the decision has been followed correctly.”

The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) was first allocated to LSPs some seven years ago. If any of the 88 Boroughs in England eligible for NRF did not have an accredited LSP, the funding would not have been made available. The main aim of the funding was to kick start a range of initiatives and secure improvements to services.  Any initiative receiving this fund knew at the outset that it was time limited and that it wasn’t permanent funding.  A number of projects including Syke Community Base obtain funding from this source.

Rochdale LSP is governed by a Board made up of public, private, community, voluntary and faith sectors and the voice of the community is further included with representation from the Leaders of the three political parties (or their nominees). The Board also has geographical representation from the Borough’s four Area Partnerships which covers Heywood, Middleton, Pennines amp; Rochdale.
           
The LSP has had confirmation from government that the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund is to cease and that a different fund will be accessible in 2008 called the Working in Neighbourhoods Fund. This fund has very different focus and this will determine which projects and services can be supported. With forsight of this government decision Thematic partnerships in October 2007 were asked by the Board to carefully review the projects and initiatives which they financially support.

Mohammad Naeem said: “The process and procedures of the decisions in relation to a number of projects including Syke Community Base are still ongoing. The Executive will be asked to confirm that it is confident that the correct approach was taken by the Voluntary Sector Community Partnership.

“There is a right for projects to appeal against funding decisions and I am sure that the Syke project is exercising that right of appeal. Until that appeals process has been concluded it would not be right for the Board to comment on the decision or to intervene.”

The Chairman of the LSP has now confirmed that he has received the resignation of John Kay, Vice Chairman of the LSP and regrets that Mr Kay has decided to take this course of action. The Executive will thank Mr Kay for his contribution to the work of the LSP.

In response to what the LSP Coordinator and the LSP Communications Officer allege are inaccuracies in Rochdale Online's reporting, Andrea Meade, LSP Communications Officer has provided the following:

"It was reported that the Board refused to attend the Township Committee meeting. This is not correct. After discussion with colleagues and members it was felt that it was not appropriate for a sole representative to attend the meeting at this stage because the process for appeal by aggrieved projects had not been concluded."

The report was therefore correct, the LSP did refuse to attend the meeting! 

"The role of the LSP Coordinator is not as alleged a 'Chief Executive' role.  The role is to ensure that partners are working effectively together to deliver the Borough’s strategic priorities."

The report  described LSP co-ordinator Lea Fothergill's role as "akin to that of Chief Executive" it did not say she was a Chief Executive, moreover, the description of her role was provided by a senior member of the LSP board!

"The Coordinator has not refused to acknowledge the email sent by Rochdale Online and has been heavily involved in producing this response."

Ms Fothergill was emailed early last Thursday morning, there was not even an acknowledgement of that email until Monday following publication of a follow up article that included criticism of Ms Fothergill for ignoring Rochdale Online's requests for answers - and it has taken until late Tuesday afternoon to provide a response.

"The Council is one partner and the Chief Executive is a member of the Board and the Executive of the LSP but has no greater role in this matter than any of the other partners."

There is no suggestion in the report to the contrary!