Redefining service provision and the relationship between local Government and residents
The challenge
Like many local authorities, West Sussex County Council (WSCC) has been affected by the current economic situation. Reductions in funding have increased the difficulties in providing services and support across the County.
WSCC approached Engine with the challenge of helping them to develop their role and relationship with residents, specifically around community access requirements. The approach had to enable and encourage residents to support themselves and each other more and so reducing direct funding and supervision from the Council.
A pilot project was established with the Transport Division, entitled Community Access Planning (CAP), to develop a model to enable better access to safe and sustainable travel across West Sussex. This model was informed by a clear understanding of user needs and co-created with those very same users.
The CAP model became emblematic of the shift in the role of the Council towards that of co-developer with communities, local Government and other sectors. It is a social innovation tool used to identify and unlock better solutions based on the needs and participation of the community, making markets for local businesses and suppliers.
Personas to help realise the needs of individuals and the community
The approach
In a scoping phase with stakeholders and residents, Engine gathered insights about West Sussex’s rural and urban areas, the needs and desires of organisations and communities, and how these can be directed towards collaborative practices with mutually beneficial outcomes.
The focus on community engagement was ensured with a collaborative design methodology. Partners, residents and stakeholders were engaged with the processes and potential outcomes of co-design and co-ownership of problems and solutions. Their capabilities were developed throughout this engagement, enabling future problem solving and the sustainability of solutions.
Increasing capabilities in West Sussex
An example of a local pilot for the model was around transport for schools in the Rother Valley area where the new Midhurst Rother College Academy has replaced 3 local schools with students travelling in from over the County borders. The CAP model was applied to explore the access issues around car usage, safety, funding and the effect on a child’s school day and learning experience.
The result
CAP investigates needs through engagement. It gathers stories to redesign the services offered by WSCC and partners, and has developed a new commissioning model for operation and to support research, new networks, partnerships and types of enterprise, delivering the best outcomes with the least direct funding.
A visualisation of WSCC’s new considerations and ways of working
The CAP model, as well as meeting the objectives set by WSCC, also supports the UK coalition Government’s flagship Big Society strategy by putting more power and responsibility into people’s hands. These aims are met in CAP’s principles of:
1. Give communities more power
2. Encourage people to take an active role in their communities, and
3. Transfer power from central to local Government.
As a result of Engine’s work, a design methodology was developed to support the new ways of working. The capabilities of the team were increased through training to enable a sustained approach to the Council’s new role of co-developer.
