Tag Archives: Waltham Forest

Healthy Living in Waltham Forest

Posted on December 3, 2008 by Renaisi| Leave a comment

In order to deliver the recently agreed Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) and Local Area Agreement (LAA) targets, Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust, on behalf of the Local Strategic Partnership, commissioned Renaisi to map the full range of public and third sector activity that is contributing to delivering their health priorities.

Renaisi is collating the relevant delivery activity though research into action plans and interviews with key delivery managers. The information collected will support partnership discussions on the best way to join up activity across different organisations and develop a sensible performance management framework for the group.

As part of this, Renaisi led a successful partnership workshop on understanding the linkages between the partnership objectives, SCS commitments and LAA targets.

A wealth of information has now been collected – over 100 streams of activity – and is currently being analysed for reporting back to the partnership group by mid-December.

For more information, please contact Michael Toyer
E. m.toyer@renaisi.com

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Waltham Forest a finalist!

Posted on November 13, 2008 by Renaisi| Leave a comment

It was announced today that the London Borough of Waltham Forest has been shortlisted for a prestigious Sustainable Communities Awards for its recent sustainable communities strategy.

The awards aim to celebrate and reward the critical role councils, primary care trusts and their local partners play in delivering genuinely sustainable communities. Now in its 4th year, the awards have recognised and celebrated some excellent and innovative work across the country where local partnerships are striving to improve the well-being of their residents.

Renaisi Director, John Hodson, spent 8 months as Interim Head of Spatial Strategy and Policy at Waltham Forest and worked closely on the development of their Sustainable Communities Strategy. In particular making sure that it was in-line with the Local Government White Paper and took full consideration of the relevant spatial, economic, social and environmental issues of the borough.

He said of the short-listing “I am delighted for Waltham Forest and everyone that worked on the strategy, I feel that they thoroughly deserve recognition and wish them the best of luck”.

The winners of the annual awards, which are sponsored by the Local Government Chronicle and the Health Service Journal, will be announced at a ceremony on 5th February 2009.

For more information about Renaisi’s work on spatial strategies and sustainable communities please contact John Hodson, Director of Planning and Programmes on j.hodson@renaisi.com

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Four Stars for Waltham Forest

Posted on September 18, 2008 by Renaisi| Leave a comment

The London Borough of Waltham Forest has been awarded Four Stars in the council’s recent Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA).

This is the highest rating a council can achieve and shows just how far they have come since receiving a zero rating when the assessments started in 2002. They are in fact the only local authority to achieve this level of improvement.

The CPA is run by the Audit Commission, and rates local councils based on their performance and the services that they run for local people. The Commission’s report mentioned Waltham Forest’s “Well led and focused” Local Strategic Partnership, as well as their “clear and challenging vision” as delivered through their Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) and Local Area Agreement (LAA) as essential elements to their 4 star rating.

Renaisi is delighted that Waltham forest have received this recognition, especially seeing as they worked closely with the council to improve the LSP, ‘Waltham Forest Working Together’, as well as managing the development of their SCS and LAA as part of a commission to develop their vision.

Just 6 years ago the Commission gave Waltham Forest a zero rating and said that the council was “not serving the people well” and had “uncertain prospects”. With this amazing improvement the council are obviously very pleased, and as a result has given all council staff an extra day of annual leave next year to say thank you.

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New Contract In Waltham Forest

Posted on February 11, 2008 by Renaisi| Leave a comment

The London Borough of Waltham Forest has commissioned Renaisi to research the borough’s inward investment offer, as part of its approach to creating a considered, robust Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS).

The council recently undertook a visioning exercise, a crucial first step in the development of its SCS or Place Shaping Strategy, which highlighted that managing population growth; retaining more wealth and creating more opportunities for local residents and businesses were key priorities for the next 10 – 20 years.

The research, which will be completed by April 2008, will provide an understanding of how Waltham Forest should position itself to lever inward investment and development, particularly considering the opportunities around the Olympics and the Stratford City development – and will create a platform for developing an investment strategy for the borough.

LindsayTripp, Principal Consultant at Renaisi, who is leading on the commission, says:

“Ensuring that businesses and residents in Waltham Forest can capitalise on London’s economic growth will be a key objective of Sustainable Community Strategy. To realise this vision, it is critical that the economic infrastructure is in place and that inward investment is effectively managed.”

Renaisi has an excellent understanding of the Borough’s economy and its strengths and weaknesses. We have reviewed the Local Strategic Partnership and delivered a number of important economic development and regeneration programmes, including resourcing the evidence base to support the Sustainable Community Strategy and providing management support for the Local Development Framework.

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Waltham Forest Voluntary Action Review

Posted on October 18, 2007 by Renaisi| Leave a comment

Renaisi has recently been appointed by the London Borough of Waltham Forest to review the effectiveness of Voluntary Action Waltham Forest (VAWF).

The contract will include a diagnostic review of VAWFs performance and capacity but will concentrate on the development and implementation of an improvement plan. This piece of work has been commissioned by the London Borough of Waltham Forest which recognises the changing role of the Voluntary Sector nationally and the need to ensure that local Infrastructure organisations such as VAWF have the capacity and support to facilitate the ongoing development of the Community and Voluntary Sector within the new policy environment.

Renaisi Consultant, Sian Penner, said, “Throughout nine years of operation, Renaisi has successfully built and supported community based partnerships, and are fully committed to helping VAWF meet the needs and aspirations of the council and the Waltham Forest voluntary sector.”

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Renaisi Director helping shape Waltham Forest

Posted on August 22, 2007 by Renaisi| Leave a comment

 

Renaisi Director of Programmes and Projects, John Hodson, was appointed to support the London Borough of Waltham Forest to help with its spatial strategy (Local Development Framework).

As Interim Head of Spatial Strategy and Policy within the Sustainable Communities unit, John, spent 6 months providing overall management support to the forward planning team, and the Transportation team. One of the main functions of the role was to ensure that the spatial dimension of the Sustainable Communities Plan is fully realised in the Local Development Framework.

John said “I was delighted to have been appointed to this interim position. Renaisi has worked closely with Waltham Forest council on a number of projects over the past few years including undertaking a review of its LSP and partnership arrangements and more recently developing a place shaping vision for the borough. This appointment demonstrated the strength of our continuing relationship and points to the priority that the borough is placing on the timely preparation of its statutory plans.”

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