The Essex Partnership is a working relationship between representatives of organisations who deliver services to the public across Essex.  Member organisations include: all local authorities (county, district, town and parish councils); police; fire service; health trusts; academic institutions; private, community and voluntary bodies.

Click on the link to access the Essex Partnership website.

The Essex Partnership directs and oversees progress on the Essex Strategy and the Essex Local Area Agreement.

The Essex Strategy  is a ten year 'umbrella' document for the activities of all the key partners in Essex. It has been compiled from the views of Essex people and shows a vision of the sustainable development of Essex into the medium term future. The Strategy's overarching vision is:

'To support Essex people to liberate their potential to enjoy the best quality of life in Britain'

The Strategy was never designed to be a static document and it was recognised by the Essex Partnership Forum that given the longevity of the strategy and an ever changing operating environment it is important that the strategy is reviewed and refreshed on an ongoing basis. The first such review was undertaken throughout 2009.

The Essex Local Area Agreement is a three year agreement from 2008 -2011 made between the Government and the Essex Partnership of public, private and third sector organisations.  The Agreement focuses the activities of the sectors on the needs of identified groups of service users and residents. It brings better value for money by channelling funds from different public organisations towards shared priorities and targets.

The LSP has signed up to the Agreement and is working to achieve a number of targets from the document that are important to the District.

Update - the current Essex Local Area Agreement is due to end on the 31st March 2011 and a review on the process, benefits and outcomes will be undertaken.  Changes to Government legislation for Local Area Agreements and their improvement targets has empowered partnerships to manage their own targets without requiring government approval or monitoring of performance.  The requirement to prepare a new Agreement from April 2011 has also been removed.

You can download a full copy of the Essex Strategy (refreshed 2010 edition) and the District Chapters appendix which accompanies the document and the Essex Local Area Agreement on the Essex Partnership website.