Slough

The Compact has given partners confidence in taking Slough Forward.

Drawing almost 100 people, Slough Local Strategic Partnership forum on 12 October helped meet the challenge of raising Compact awareness, commitment and understanding. Opening the event, Council Leader Rob Anderson announced the determination of partners to boost working together through their Compact. Slough is well placed to do this as the district now has over 30 Compact Champions, supported by a Compact Worker.

 

Council Chief Executive Ruth Bagley hailed their new consultation portal for giving groups easier access. She advised that “the ground rules are there as a safety net but the Compact’s main value is in engagement, mutual support and delivering the LAA targets. So we need to keep challenging each other on how our Compact is working.” Janice Haynes, the local Citizens Advice Bureau Compact Champion, gave examples of Slough Compact being used to get a fair deal, such as payment in advance or avoiding cost-shunting on building repairs, simply by challenging funders on whether they are being Compact-compliant.  

 

A key message was: face up to difficult conversations. One manager from the sector concluded that “Using the Compact would have made it much easier for us to keep in with funders and avoid personalities getting in the way”.  

 

Learning points:

·   The Compact is for everyone to use when working together

·   Effective dialogue between groups and public bodies helps everyone to win 

 

For more information about Slough Forward, contact Naveed Mohammed.

Tell us how you use the Compact

Essential Reading

Holding an Event?