Principles met

  • We will develop systems that enable citizens to be equal partners in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.
  • We will explore ways for councils to act as a platform for helping the community to contribute to local outcomes, and to re-think the role of councillors as community connectors, brokers and leaders.
  • We will embrace innovation in how we work with local communities to drive positive change.
  • We will support the development of a framework and criteria for social value, giving substance to the concept and supporting Councils with the tools to ensure better local social and economic outcomes.
  • In exploring new ways of meeting the priority needs of our communities we will encourage models, such as co-operatives and mutuals, which give greater influence and voice to staff and users. in designing and commissioning public services and in determining the use of public resources.
  • As a membership organisation, we will make this statement of our principles operational by: • Co-operation among members: Our members work together to help each other implement our values, sharing experiences and learning. • Openness of membership: Full, Associate and Affiliate Membership is open to any qualifying Council, organisation or individual who shares our values and is committed to putting them into action. • Co-production of the Network’s work: Members help shape the Network’s work programme and the content of events and written products. • Action-focused: The network is a vehicle for helping councils translate co-operative values and principles into policy and practice. •Membership-based: The network is majority funded by modest membership subscriptions from its member Councils, Associates and Affiliates. •Non-party-political: Members share the belief that working co-operatively within and across communities holds the key to tackling today’s challenges.

Our LET’S Do It! Strategy is now 5 years old, and for these past years we really have been ‘doing it!’, Bury remains the third most prosperous borough in Greater Manchester, we’re moving ahead with regeneration projects worth over £100m and are leading in areas from adult social care to community health.

Over the last 5 years, we’ve ‘stepped-up’ in our place-based leadership, we’re operating ‘innovative and brave’ neighbourhood teams, we’ve won awards for our change and development programmes, won the GM Health & Care Awards Inclusive Recruitment award, and been recognised at the Health Service Journal Awards for our Adult Community Care. As the LGA put it ‘strengthening our internal narratives supports external progress’.

Our strategy is working, but we’re not there yet, we needed to refresh LET’S, to create a more focused, more refined and more purposeful strategy that could guide us across the next 5 years. One that took the best of LET’S and built on the mature partnerships across Team Bury, leveraged the improvements and opportunities across our Borough and GM, and made sure we delivered on a specific set of targets by 2030.

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