Joint service planning
Locality planning in West Lothian
What is it?
Locality planning involves public sector organisations working with local communities and community organisations to:
• work out what local communities need and want
• change the way that service providers work
• deliver services that meet communities needs better
• argue the case for additional resources, where they are needed
For the purposes of locality planning, West Lothian is split into nine local areas. These are based on secondary school catchment areas.
Who are the partners?
In West Lothian, the locality planning process is driven by West Lothian Community Planning Partnership. Each of the locality planning areas involve local partners.
In one of the first locality planning areas – Inveralmond – just some of the partners involved in the process were:
• local communities
• schools and nurseries
• local service providers
• Community Councils
A lot of work was done in each area to make sure that local communities were able to participate as full and equal partners.
What did partnership working achieve?
In each of the nine locality planning areas, a detailed action plan has been produced. Each plan clearly and simply sets out what will change over the next two years.
Working together to develop these plans has meant that:
• Shared priorities have been agreed for each locality
• The way all services are provided has changed to match local priorities
• There are good shared statistics across all agencies about each of the locality planning areas
• Local people are happy with the new services that have been introduced
• Progress is measured jointly through the Community Planning Partnership
In Inveralmond, partnership working has resulted in real changes to the way that services are provided. A new centre – the Daisy Drop In – has been set up. It provides a central point for parents to access services provided by all community planning partners.
What lessons were learned?
• Working jointly to improve service provision at a local level is a long term process. Commitment to this new way of working is essential.
• Involving staff at both a local and strategic level can make it easier to adapt and change local services to meet the needs of communities.
• Using artistic engagement methods can be a useful way of working jointly with local communities and involving them as full partners in the process.
Where can I find out more?
Locality Planning Manager
West Lothian Council
Tel: 01506 777 320
