Terms Of Reference Of The Partnership Board

Introduction

The South Yorkshire Partnership, formerly known as the South Yorkshire Forum, is the strategic partnership (LSP) for the sub region. Bringing together the public, private, voluntary and community sectors, it is THE key strategic partner to Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency, in facilitating sub regional economic development and regeneration.

Overall Aim

The Partnership’s overall aim is to achieve the following ‘Vision’ for South Yorkshire:

‘To build a balanced, diverse, and sustainable high growth economy in South Yorkshire by 2010, recognised as a growing European centre for high technology manufacturing and knowledge based services and offering opportunities for the whole community’

Main Strategic Objectives

Overseeing Economic Transformation

The Partnership Board will oversee the transformation of the sub regional economy in order to create a more prosperous and inclusive South Yorkshire, in line with the Regional Economic Strategy and the South Yorkshire Vision

Research and Advocacy

To commission relevant research through the South Yorkshire Research Forum to provide the evidence base for necessary actions
To advocate South Yorkshire’s case when responding to consultations on regional policy and to lobby for additional resources for regeneration and regional development.

Co-ordination Of Partnership Working in South Yorkshire

Joining up the work of the four district local strategic partnerships together with other stake holder bodies, to add value at the South Yorkshire level.

Strategy Development

The development of sub regional strategies within the purview of the Vision and Strategic Framework document and concerning issues impacting upon South Yorkshire’s economy.

Other Strategic Priorities

As part of its overall objective to bring about a step change in the South Yorkshire economy, the Partnership will aim to ensure:

That the organisational changes in the health sector help achieve the delivery of the highest quality of health care to the people of South Yorkshire.
Improvements in both learning and the take up of modern skills required by employers
Transforming the transport infrastructure in South Yorkshire to help regeneration
The development of a sub regional spatial strategy
Helping disadvantaged and excluded groups in accessing sustainable job and training opportunities
Ensuring the Government’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy makes a positive impact upon communities in South Yorkshire
Devising measures aimed at keeping graduates and skilled workers within the County
Promoting and marketing what is best about South Yorkshire

Membership

The South Yorkshire Partnership is composed of the following bodies:

The Partnership Board (25 members including the Chair of the Partnership and Director as well as the following representatives from throughout South Yorkshire who have the mandate to take decisions on behalf of their organisations on issues affecting South Yorkshire):

Leaders of the four district local authorities
Nominated representatives of the four district LSPs
Presidents of the four district Chambers of Commerce
Chief Executive of the South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority
Chief Executive and one other Board member of Yorkshire Forward
Board Member of the South Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council
Board Member from Business Link South Yorkshire
Director representative from Job Centre+
Director of Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber (Objective 1 Programme Directorate)
Two senior representatives from South Yorkshire’s higher and further education sector
Four advocates from the South Yorkshire Open Forum

A deputy chair is nominated and selected from among the Board. In addition, the following observers attend meetings of the Partnership Board:

Representative of the Assembly for Yorkshire and the Humber
Yorkshire Forward’s Head of South Yorkshire sub division

The South Yorkshire Partnership, comprised of members derived from all quarters of the local economy, including private enterprise.
A supporting group of senior officers whose role is to advise the Partnership Board and prepare policy options for decision. These include:

The Partnership Director
Co-ordinator of the South Yorkshire Coalfields Partnership
Chief executives’ representatives of the four district local authorities
Chief executives’ of the four district LSPs
Managing Director of Business Link South Yorkshire
Executive Director of Learning and Skills South Yorkshire
Pro Vice Chancellor’s representative of Sheffield Hallam University
Director-General of the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
Chief Executive of the South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority
Chief Executive of the South Yorkshire Open Forum

Decision Making Arrangements

The principles of adding value and mutuality underpin the work of the Partnership as it faces the challenges of improving the economy of South Yorkshire.

In taking its decisions, the Partnership Board will, at all times, conduct its business openly and transparently. It will make rational decisions, based upon the principles of consultation, consensus and sustainability. Equally, the Partnership Board will acknowledge the principle of subsidiarity where the need for more locally based decisions is appropriate.

Meetings Of The Partnership Board

Receive reports relating to its role as the strategic partnership for South Yorkshire and make strategic choices for the sub-region
Recommend the appointment of the Deputy Chair.
Approve the Partnership’s work programme
Approve any amendments to its present constitution or membership
Authorise the formation of any Board sub groups for the purpose of carrying out further work, including research into policy priorities

An agenda indicating the order of business will be circulated to members and other stake holders, no less than five working days prior to the meetings of the Board.

Voting At Meetings

The Board’s decisions will be based on the principles of consensus and consultation. However, in the event of a vote, this will be decided upon a show of hands and by a simple majority of the Members of the Board who are present.

Neither the Chair or the Deputy Chair should have a casting vote. Where the Leaders of the four district councils are being represented by council chief executives, the latter will act as voting members of the Partnership Board.

Meetings of the Board will require fifty percent of the Members to be present in order to form a quorum.

The Wider Partnership

The South Yorkshire Partnership will meet twice annually to discuss and share information on key issues of relevance to the sub region.