Job Title: Previously Head of Policy and Strategy

Organisation: Shepway District Council

Email: david.east@shepway.gov.uk

For more information about working with David contact Janine Gill at PtP  Janine@seemp.co.uk or 01962 840664

As a local authority officer was responsible for the running of the Shepway LSP between 2001 and 2005. Subsequently as an independent consultant, led the project to re-launch strategic partnership working in the district, including setting up the Shepway Community Partnership and preparing its community strategy.

In the same independent capacity, has been closely involved in the development of the East Kent LSP from its inception, particularly the production of its recently published sustainable community strategy – ‘Lighting The Way To Success.’

As Head of Policy for Shepway District Council was closely involved in the development of the first two rounds of LAA work (pilot Local Public Service Agreements in Kent and Kent Agreement 1). Subsequent role with East Kent LSP has included frequent immersion in the workings of the latest LAA round – Kent Agreement. 2.

Has extensive experience of the precursors of Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) (i.e. Best Value & Comprehensive Performance Assessment) but limited hands on experience of CAA itself.

Local Authority chief officer (Housing Director; Head of Policy & Performance) for 15 years. Has acquired experience of policy development across a wide range of local authority services.

As a consultant led the complete re-drafting of Shepway DC’s corporate plan in 2006, working direct to its new Chief Executive.

Examples include:

Setting up from scratch effective resident participation arrangements in a local authority housing service – arrangements that are still flourishing.

As a consultant, established a joint Community Safety Unit for Shepway, integrating separate strands of law enforcement and regulatory work with community development programmes to meet local demands.

Strong interpersonal skills and wide experience including:

• Re-focusing and confidence-building in staff teams following Shepway’s chastening CPA performance in 2004.
• Repairing and building relationships in a newly formed Housing Services unit in 1990s.

Dealing with underlying tensions, doubts and rivalries as part of the development of East Kent LSP.

Extensive experience and strong skills in this area. Examples include:

• Lead facilitator for all action planning workshops as part of the development of the East Kent Sustainable Community Strategy.
• Lead facilitator for all Equality Impact assessment workshops for Shepway DC
• Facilitator of public consultation sessions on the core strategy of Shepway DC’s Local Development Framework.

Assignment: LSP Governance session

When: 25th March 2009

Host: LSP Officers' Group, Oxfordshire

Practitioner Associates: David East and Simon Newell

Simon Newell covered the structures of LSP governance, roles and responsibilities. David focussed on governance issues which can arise for LSPs, emphasising three key points that the LSP Officers took on board:

·That form follows function in any governance arrangements (or other aspects of LSP operation for that matter);

·That, despite their differences, all LSPs tend to have similar characteristics and are prone to fall into similar traps;

·That common pitfalls can be avoided by asking the right questions beforehand.

The assignment was well received. David circulated some follow up material (powerpoint):

'Mind your Ps and Qs'  9Mb

David said: 'For myself, I was impressed both with the kindness extended to us by the Group and the degree to which Oxfordshire was working collaboratively across the two tiers of local government – no mean feat in my experience.'