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North Hertfordshire Local Strategic Partnership (NHLSP)
Background to the NHLSP
The Local Government Act 2000 imposed a statutory duty on district councils to develop ‘community strategies’ for their locality, securing the involvement of the statutory, private, community and voluntary sectors.
To oversee the development and implementation of the North Hertfordshire Community Strategy, the North Hertfordshire Local Strategic Partnership (NHLSP), comprising representatives of a wide range of local organisations, was formed in June 2002.
One of the major actions of the group in 2004 was to formulate a joint vision for the district that all the partners and residents could work towards. Following discussions and consultation, the following Vision was adopted:
“Making North Hertfordshire a vibrant place to live, work and prosper.”
Recent government changes now require that from 2006 the strategy should be a Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS), including relevant information on housing , the Local Development Framework (LDF) and environmental issues.
What does the NHLSP do?
The Partnership needs to operate on a “two way” process, with members using their expertise to shape the Community Strategy and, in turn, adapting their own internal processes to address the actions subsequently highlighted.
The results of public consultations are paramount, and are balanced with needs identified by proactive local agencies.
Many partners also have national targets, which often direct where their budgets can be spent. Particular emphasis is placed on identifying opportunities for “multi-agency” activities that can efficiently impact in a number of areas, potentially including the pooling of budgets.
The NHLSP Executive meets every two months. Minutes of NHLSP Executive meetings are available for viewing. In addition, there is an annual conference, which members of the public and other interested bodies are encouraged to attend.
Who is in the NHLSP?
Considerable time and effort has been given to establishing a robust and sustainable Local Strategic Partnership and to this end, a new structure, comprising a NHLSP Executive and wider partnership has been finalised.
The wider partnership contains individuals and representatives from a range of local organisations who have expressed an interest.
The Executive consists of 34 representatives of the following organisations:
- North Hertfordshire District Council*
- Town and Parish Council representatives
- Hertfordshire County Council
- Hertfordshire Constabulary
- Hertfordshire Police Authority
- Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
- North Hertfordshire & Stevenage Primary Care Trust
- North Hertfordshire College
- Jobcentre Plus
- Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce
- Stevenage Business Initiative
- Town Centre Partnerships
- District Childrens' Trust Partnership
- Registered Social Landlords' Forum
*NHDC is represented by Councillors (including the Leader of NHDC, the Community Engagement Portfolio holder and other co-opted members) and NHDC officers (including the Chief Executive).
In addition, the North Hertfordshire COMPACT can appoint 10 representatives from the voluntary sector:
- North Hertfordshire Citizen's Advice Bureau
- North Hertfordshire Council for Voluntary Service
- Royston & District Volunteer Bureau
- Hitchin Visioning Group
- Stevenage and North Hertfordshire Counselling
- Age Concern Hertfordshire
- North Hertfordshire Minority Ethnic Forum
- Hitchin Christian Centre
- Hitchin Town Football Club
North Hertfordshire Local Strategic Partnership Minutes 
North Hertfordshire Local Strategic Partnership Terms of Reference
