HC Deb 20 November 2001 vol 375 cc214-5W
34. Stephen Hesford

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to encourage partnerships in local communities. [13587]

Dr. Whitehead

The Government expect county, district and parish councils to work in partnership with each other, with local communities, and other public, private and voluntary sector organisations to provide the best quality services for local people.

We are taking a number of steps to foster this working, including the promotion of 'local strategic partnerships' to bring these groups together.

Under the duty of Best Value, we also expect local councils to explore new ways of delivering public services, and that is why we have just launched a new task force on strategic service delivery further to encourage partnership working with the private sector.

I understand that there is effective joint working between the public, private and community and voluntary sectors in Dorset and I commend my hon. Friend the member for South Dorset (Jim Knight).