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By drawing on the professional expertise of all partners, service delivery in Rochdale is being transformed, improving the quality of life for all sectors of the borough's community Rochdale has a strong and proud history of partnership working. Together, Rochdale MBC, Mouchel, Agilisys and Link4Life have, so far, created more than 300 new jobs, and will achieve £27.4m of efficiency savings over the lifetime of the partnerships. Rochdale is being transformed – and that's a conclusion backed up by a recent, positive, Audit Commission report. It said: ‘Local people are benefiting from the contribution of the strategic partners [Impact Partnership and Link4Life].' The council had decided that it needed radical solutions to achieve challenging aims. As a result, it established two partnerships – Impact Partnership and Link4Life. Each of these partnerships contributes strongly to overall borough aims through their own objectives. Impact Partnership is an innovative joint venture formed between the council and Mouchel, and supported by Agilisys. It was established in April 2006, and is a 15-year agreement to deliver highways and engineering, property, ICT, contact centre and payroll services. The amalgamation of public and private sector skills has created an ambitious and socially-aware organisation, with the following challenging objectives: to create significant jobs growth, particularly for local people to transform services and deliver efficiencies within Impact Partnership to drive and support the transformation of services across the council to deliver major regeneration schemes across Rochdale to develop education links, broadening the ladder of opportunity. Through the services it provides to and on behalf of the council, Impact Partnership is already well on the way to achieving these objectives. Overall customer satisfaction has risen by at least 10%, exceeding the annual target for 2008-09 by 2.6%. Impact Partnership has created more than 300 new jobs, delivered £1.5m efficiencies – equating to £12.5m over the life of the contract – and has achieved 40% growth of turnover from £16.5m to £24m. The Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust was launched in April 2007 under the name of Link4Life. Its services include arts and heritage, entertainment, fitness and health, sport and leisure. Fundamental to the creation of the trust was an initial 15-year partnership agreement with Rochdale MBC, establishing the standard of performance for services transferring from the local authority. A voluntary agreement – a concordat – was signed, by the three party leaders, setting out the strategic role of the borough's cultural services. Developing new and improved facilities is a key objective on which the cultural trust is based. Success in this area plays an important part in achieving the other positive improvements that were sought to meet borough-wide priorities, including: increasing participation in sport and the arts improving local health and wellbeing particularly of children and families, young people and older people, developing new and innovative cultural activities providing quality services which show continuous improvement. Link4Life aims to make a significant impact on local communities, both as service-provider and employer. Its success is the product of strong and fruitful partnerships with key stakeholders. Roger Ellis, Rochdale MBC's chief executive, says: ‘‘Rochdale is the birthplace of co-operation. Strong and well co-ordinated partnerships are helping us to achieve better outcomes for local people against a challenging social and economic backdrop. ‘The partnerships have added strength to our regeneration and transformation plans, securing investment and new jobs for local people which could not have been secured in any other way.' And Irene Davidson, leader of Rochdale MBC, adds: ‘Ultimately, our collective aim is to improve the quality of life for people in the borough. ‘Together, we can do more than we can do alone – and both Impact Partnership and Link4Life bring a wealth of knowledge, skill and expertise to the table. The results are already impressive, with 300 new jobs being created since 2007, and significant regeneration projects such as the Rochdale town centre masterplan and Middleton Arena moving forward via a partnership approach. ‘Together, the partnerships are, quite rightly, ambitious for Rochdale borough, and will ensure that it is well placed to face the challenges of the next few years.' The CAA 2009 report on Rochdale by the Audit Commission noted: ‘The council works well with partners to improve value for money. Its commercial partnerships are helping to improve service quality, reduce costs and bring significant extra investment into the borough.'

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WHITEHALL

The MJ Local Government Achievement Awards 2010 Category: Public Private Partnership of the Year

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