What is the project?
The Gloucestershire Leading Places project is focused on how to improve the long-term, strategic leadership of the County, most specially to ensure that Gloucestershire fulfils its potential for economic development. The project supports the development of a vision for 2050 and beyond, which includes strategic and economic initiatives for the County. This will include the development of new partnerships and the strengthening of existing ones.
Who are the partners?
The lead partners are Gloucestershire County Council, University of Gloucestershire and the Royal Agricultural College.
The non-exhaustive list of supporting partners is:
- Royal Agricultural University
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Cotswold District Council
- Forest of Dean District Council
- Gloucester City Council
- Stroud District Council
- Tewkesbury Borough Council
- GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership
Why was this project chosen?
In light of a potential new devolution deal and ongoing structural change, collaborative leadership has been an important topic of debate for many of Gloucester's institutions. The project was proposed to, and accepted by, the Leadership Gloucestershire forum, which represents a number of different public sector bodies. The idea of collaborative leadership was already in discussion, but it was decided that the ‘how' could be addressed through the Leading Places programme.
Why Gloucestershire?
Many of Gloucestershire's organisations cover the same boundaries, and therefore it should be easier to develop a shared vision and agenda. Also the partners involved value the relationships they have with local partners, and are always looking to improve their understanding of each other.
Why did Gloucestershire choose the Leading Places programme?
Leading Places helps to develop the mechanisms and structures needed to creative effective, collective leadership. It will create opportunities to learn about leadership models and cross-sector service delivery.
What are the benefits of the project?
The people of Gloucestershire will benefit from this project, as it will ultimately help to improve the quality of life and economic, social, and cultural well-being through effective leadership.
What progress has been made to date?
The University of Gloucestershire organised a workshop for senior leaders in the County in February 2017. This half-day event was well-attended, with 30 people in the role of Chief Executive, Leader, or equivalent in attendance drawn from the local authorities, public sector bodies, and the local universities. The sense of the first workshop was that if the County is to move forward we need to focus on what would be better by adopting other models of leadership, perhaps by giving some specifics of models that worked elsewhere in achieving comparable goals. A report of the workshop has been circulated to all those who were invited and those who attended. There is a commitment to holding a follow-up event to continue the discussion.