Locality Planning – The Key Elements

A locality plan is a fundamental and dynamic management tool which will state a list of targets to be met within a given locality. It will be based on local needs analysis and will be used to prioritise resource allocation whilst at the same time encouraging involvement and enhancing accountability. There are many factors which will determine how such a plan might develop, some of which are the consultation processes, inter-agency and inter-service co-operation, availability of resources, service quality, monitoring and feedback procedures as well as meeting the corporate aims, values and policies of Fife Council. Consultation will need to be participative and all who may be affected by the plan would need to be actively encouraged to participate. This would involve amongst others, local community groups, elected members, voluntary organisations, residents, businesses, council services and officials. This consultation ‘phase† would have to examine what other plans, initiatives, programmes and policies may be in place and any resultant impact on existing service provision and resources. Inter-agency and intra-agency co-operation is essential if information is to be collated and processed in any meaningful fashion and to ensure that any plan once in place will be properly supported. Barriers to co-operation need to be removed through consultation, participation, negotiation, and improved communication channels. Resource provision has to be assessed along with any plan. Existing resources, whether personnel, equipment or financial can only cater for so many needs. The targeting of these resources would need to be negotiated and agreed by all parties involved as part of the process of encouraging ownership of and participation in a locality plan. To provide a plan which meets local needs and has the necessary resources is pointless if the quality of implementation does not meet the expectations of the community. Recognition therefore of the service delivery processes are vital. Personnel need to be properly trained, highly motivated and committed to the aims of the plan. Equipment needs to be suitable for its intended purpose and utilised as effectively as possible. Monitoring and feedback are an essential part of the process if the locality plan is to remain dynamic. Monitoring allows the progress of the plan to be measured and any fine tuning can be implemented where needed. Monitoring assesses and measures the success of any plan whilst feedback allows information to be fed to, and received from, those involved at all stages of the plan from strategic policy development, to the officers implementing the plan, to the people, groups and communities receiving the benefits. The aims, policies and corporate values of Fife Council should underpin any plan. Plans should encourage openness and accountability, improve participation and involvement, provide quality and equality, promote devolved decision making and enhance learning and development.