3.31 To inform the development of recommendations and consult on some of the key findings emerging from the analysis of departmental returns, officials from EPU also met with a number of partnerships and key regional organisations to discuss their experience of partnership working.
3.32 Meetings at a local level concentrated on Local Strategy Partnerships, Leader + and Community Safety Partnerships operating in the Derry City Council and Magherafelt District Council areas.
3.33 These areas were chosen to provide a contrast between an urban and rural focus where all three partnerships operate within the Council area and also to take account of two alternative approaches to partnership. While LSP, Leader + (RAPID) and CSP partnerships in the Derry District Council area have separate administrative structures, in Magherafelt all three share administrative structures in the form of the Magherafelt Area Partnership.
3.34 Five regional organisations were identified, representing trade unions (NIC/ICTU), the voluntary Sector (NICVA), the local business sector (CBI), and local government (NILGA and SOLACE).
3.35 To facilitate discussion a script was distributed to all groups. The script focused on exploring a number of issues identified in the literature review and the mapping exercise. A copy of the script is attached at Appendix Four.
3.36 Although the discussions with the above bodies were wide ranging the key issues identified can be summarised as follows:
• The role and added value of partnership;
• Building effective partnerships;
• The public sector as a partner; and
• Partnership and local government.