Q1. Who would you expect the partners to be in each Partnership

The Sub Regional Partnerships should consist of influential decision-makers who can drive policy proposals across their sub region.  
The longer-term strategy of the Partnerships should clearly define the necessary stakeholders. See Governance Framework for recommendations of potential sectors.

Q2. What will be the Governance arrangements of the Partnerships?

All Partnerships across the Country have to follow the following minimum Governance requirements to receive Sport England Core Funding. Broadly speaking Partnerships will have to demonstrate the following:

Strategy/Organisation Form/Governing Documentation (inc Memorandum of Agreement/Host Agency Agreement that clarifies roles, responsibilities of the host and Partnership)

Employment – Staff Contracts/Organisational Chart/Host Legal Liabilities

Performance Management – Management and Reporting System

Financial Regulations, Controls and Risk – Financial Planning system, operating processes, compliance with all legal requirements, risk assessment

Governance – Partnership is able to make decisions on community sport  need. The Partnership is built on firm foundations, with clarity of purpose, shared values, a vision for success and a commitment from key stakeholders

Q3.  Who will make up the Partnership Board?

The Sub Regional Partnership Board should consist of influential decision-makers representative of the sub regional stakeholders who can drive policy proposals across their sub region.  

All board members will be selected via an open recruitment process.

1st October 31st March 06 – LSB Member acting as interim Chair of the Board

30th November – Chair appointed for a period of 2 years

30th November – 3 interim Board Members will be appointed for a period of 1 year

Q4.  What funding will be available to Partnerships?

150K core funding per Partnership per year for 3 years up to 31st March 2009 will be allocated by the London Sports Board against annual business plans.

Q5. Can you explain how the £150,000 pa core funding per Partnership will be spent. i.e. is this funding to cover overheads i.e. salaries, rent etc or to be used by partner agencies for new initiatives/delivery etc?

The 150k core funding will be allocated to Partnerships to decide sub regionally how best to deliver against their business plan. The minimum requirement placed on each Partnership will be the appointment of a sub regional Partnership Director. The proportion of core funding spent on overheads will be dependant on the individual host agency arrangements. There is however a strong recognition within Sport England that additional funding will be required for delivery “doing money”. Discussions are currently taking place within Sport England to identify additional funds to support Partnerships. Further details will follow.

Q6.  Will the sub-regional partners be expected to provide match funding either immediately or in the near future?

Sub Regional Partners will not be expected to contribute match funding to the £150k core funding. It is however likely that over a period of time Sub Regional partners would be expected to contribute partner funding to support the delivery of the sub regional strategy and annual business plan. The Sub Regional Management Groups will play a key role in determining the required amount against individual   stakeholders ability to contribute.

Q7.  Will SE/LSB have to endorse the final sub-regional strategy and business plan?

Yes. The London Sports Board will play an active role in supporting the sub regional strategies recognised that the development of Sub Regional Partnerships is the key priority for the region. They have made a decision to assign a board member to each Partnership Board. They will work with the Sport England regional office and the Partnership Boards to ensure that funding is channelled into interventions prioritised by the sub regions that focus on increasing participation and widen access in sport and physical activity for the whole community. They will continue to use their influence at a regional level to generate additional investment into these partnerships.

Q8.  Who are the Host Agencies?

·We are currently negotiating with 5 preferred host agencies. Once negotiations have concluded  we will  formally announce the successful agencies

Q9.  What is the proposed staffing structure?

The LSB agree to the appoint of a Partnership Director for each Partnership as minimum requirement from the £150K core funding

Partnership Directors will be appointed between an agreed scales of £45-50K per annum

Staffing for a further 12 months beyond March 06 will be reflected in the 1 year business plan 2006/07. This is likely to be administrative support for the Director and Board

The full Partnership Staffing structure will be identified within the Partnerships full Strategy and Business Plans 2007 - 2014.

Q10. What is the role and how did you identify the Sub Regional Advisors?

The Advisor role is to work with the Sport England Lead Officer and London Sports Board Chair to complete the Fit For Purpose requirements by March 06. A decision was taken by Sport England to appoint Sub Regional Advisors to help achieve the Fit For Purpose timescales and get the Partnerships on the move. All individuals were selected based on their involvement with both new and existing Partnerships.

Q11. What is the role of the London Sports Board Chair?

To provide a consistent link back to the London Sports Board. To act as the interim Chair of the new Partnership Board October 05 -  31stMarch 06. Sports Board Chairs will have Lead responsibility in recruiting the permanent Chair (2 years) and interim board members

Q12. Sport England have a major role in coordinating the proposed management of the Partnerships to ensure core functions within each Partnership are being achieved. How will Sport England achieve this?

Sport England will support this by adapting the way it works, co-ordinates and supports the work of the sub regions while still maintaining a strong voice for sport in London.. We have allocated senior officers to each of the sub regions who will act as a focal point for all key stakeholders providing ongoing support to both the Partnership Directors and Partnership Boards Their role will help to facilitate policy, connect agendas and ensure co-ordinated delivery.

Q13. Clarify the role of Sport England?

Sport England have a major role in coordinating the proposed management of the Partnerships to ensure core functions and funding conditions within each Partnership are being achieved.  The Sport England Partnerships Manager will ensure that the core functions are being delivered by each Partnership and that there is co-ordination between them, ensuring that the boundaries are permeated when needed and flexible to meet the local need.  In short we as a regional office will maintain a London wide strategic role with other regional agencies and support sub regional delivery with a variety of stakeholders.

Further Questions

If you have questions that remain unanswered after reading this update or at any time during the next 6 months you can e-mail the Regional Office and we will respond with either the answer or a time frame within which we may be able to answer your question.

Please e-mail:

holly.woodford@sportengland.org