Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) have been set up to support local areas to work together to increase the social, environmental and economic well being of their communities and provide a single strategic focus.

The composition of each LSP is unique to each area and reflects the make-up of that particular community.

There is an expectation that each LSP will:

• Utilise resources more efficiently leading to improved services

• Utilising resources more effectively, thus improving outcomes

• Making more co-ordinated and coherent decisions for the benefit of their area

The initiation of the LSPS reflects the desire by government to bring the various fragmented parts of local governance together and provide a coherent and cohesive approach to local problems and issues. In effect, LSPs provide ‘joined up solutions for joined up problems'.