Purpose

To enable Tendring District Council to participate in a nationally funded programme designed to strengthen strategic collaboration between public services and the VCSE sector, access programme support and expertise, and support the development of sustainable partnership arrangements that benefit local communities.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), through the Local Covenant Partnerships (LCP) Fund programme administered by Locality, has invited Tendring District Council to participate as one of 15 selected areas across England in a three-year programme running until March 2029.
The programme aims to strengthen strategic partnership working between local authorities, statutory partners and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector through the development and implementation of a Local Covenant Partnership, aligned to the principles of the Civil Society Covenant.
Participation in the programme will provide access to dedicated programme support, peer learning opportunities and specialist expertise to assist the Council and local VCSE sector in jointly developing and embedding a Local Covenant Partnership. Subject to separate application, assessment and quality assurance processes, the programme may also make grant funding available to support VCSE sector capacity building and implementation activity.
As part of participation, the Council is required to commit to working collaboratively with the VCSE sector, nominate a senior officer to support the programme, engage with programme monitoring and governance requirements, and contribute to the co-production of local partnership objectives. Any funding awarded through the programme would be held and administered by the VCSE sector and not by the Council.
Participation does not create any financial commitment for the Council beyond officer time and engagement in the programme. Entering into the partnership aligns with the Council's ambitions to strengthen community leadership, support the local voluntary sector and develop collaborative approaches to delivering positive outcomes for residents

Decision

To agree Tendring District Council's support for the Local Covenant Partnerships Fund programme and to sign the letter attached to this decision, setting out the Council's participation in the three-year programme to March 2029.

Alternative options considered

This partnership has the potential to support the wider public sector in delivering services for our communities, which will add resilience and additional resources to the organisation - in the event of any future announcement on LGR.