Harrogate district Public Services Leadership Board (PSLB)
Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) representative
1.0 Introduction:
The Harrogate District Public Services Leadership Board has been in existence for a
year and a half now and has recently reviewed its governance arrangements. The PSLB
would now like to extend its membership to include a Voluntary and Community Sector
representative.
The Board currently has a membership of chief officers from Harrogate Borough Council,
North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate and Rural District Clinical Commissioning
Group, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS
Foundation Trust, North Yorkshire Police (also representing North Yorkshire Fire &
Rescue Service), Office of Police and Crime Commissioner North Yorkshire, Harrogate
College and the Department for Work and Pensions.
The PSLB have in determining their programme of work agreed that by working together
we can ensure a joined up approach to strategic planning and service delivery in order to
maximise the best use of resources and deliver seamless services by working across
organisational boundaries.
2.0 The role of the representative:
The role of the VCS representative on the PSLB is to act as the conduit between the
Board and the VCS across the Harrogate district, ensuring that the sector is engaged on
the work of the Board and can play an active part in delivering against the priorities and
work programmes.
The expectations of the representative:

To support a “One Public Service “ vision and facilitate local organisations coming
together seamlessly to deliver more cohesive, joined up and unified local services;

To have the ability to think strategically, to have breadth of vision and to see
problems and issues from a wider, forward-looking perspective – and to make
1
appropriate linkages.

To have the ability to be open to change and challenge views.

Represent the interests and views of all voluntary organisations, not just those of
their own organisation or area of interest;

Attend the quarterly board meetings (day time, during the week) on behalf of the
VCS;

Represent the sector on the Boards thematic subgroups, task and finish groups or
to identify the most suitable VCS organisation to do so;

To assist in the delivery of the PSLB plan on a page (Appendix 1);

To lead on any pieces of work as delegated by the Board;

To communicate opportunities for joint working to and from the Board that involve
the VCS;

To fulfil the role as detailed within the PSLB terms of reference (Appendix 2).
3.0 The process:
The PSLB are now open to receive expressions of interest from organisations who would
like to fulfil the role of VCS representative on the Board.
For those interested in the role, an EOI form can be found in Appendix 3. This needs to
be completed and returned to Ann Byrne at ann.byrne@harrogate.gov.uk by the 1st
September 2015.
The PSLB will then consider all expressions of interest received at their next meeting on
the 17th September 2015 and appoint the most suitable representative that they feel can
fulfil the role.
4.0 Contact details:
For more information about the PSLB and the VCS representative role please contact
Ann Byrne, Partnership & Engagement Manager, Harrogate Borough Council on
Ann.Byrne@harrogate.gov.uk or 01423 556067.
2
Appendix 1
3
Appendix 2
Harrogate District Public Services Leadership Board
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1.0 Aim
1.1 We recognise that public services are facing some of the biggest ever financial, social and
environmental challenges. Our commitment to meeting together as a Public Services Leadership
Board will support a “One Public Service “ vision and facilitate local agencies coming together
seamlessly to deliver more cohesive, joined up and unified local services.
2.0 Role of the Board:
2.1 Together we will lead and support the delivery of quality services that are efficient, innovative
and reflect the specific needs and priorities of our local communities; ensuring better outcomes
and improving the lives of local people.
2.2 The Board will support the principles outlined in the Localism Act that provides the impetus
for joined up public service delivery and increased governance at a local level.
In particular:

Stimulate integration, co-ordination and co-operation between key service delivery
organisations across the District

Ensure policy and delivery coherence within our District

To be the local delivery mechanism to implement and consider actions and priority agendas
that are being agreed by partnerships at a county and sub-regional level in particular the
North Yorkshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the North Yorkshire Community Plan.

Identify the strategic priorities for joint action by partners within the District (held within the
PSLB plan on a page).

Provide the leadership to ensure that difficult issues across public services are confidently
managed, not avoided or ignored

Identify opportunities to pool resources to improve provision of services to our communities

Identify opportunities to reduce the costs of service delivery by removing waste and
duplication

Identify key emerging issues for the District and negotiate changes to services and service
delivery models which might better deliver outcomes for people
3.0 Membership
3.1 The members of the Board shall be public sector officer representatives of the following
named organisations or any successor bodies. Any member may nominate a named substitute
with appropriate seniority and knowledge to attend and act in their absence.







Harrogate Borough Council
North Yorkshire County Council
NHS Harrogate and Rural District Clinical Commissioning Group
Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust
Harrogate College
North Yorkshire Police & North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service
Office of Police and Crime Commissioner North Yorkshire
4


Department of Work and Pensions
Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
3.2. Other representatives from interested organisations may be co-opted or invited to meetings.
Such representatives shall receive appropriate agendas and papers for
Board meetings and shall have the right to speak at such meetings but not vote on
any item.
3.3. Changes to membership will be agreed by a simple majority of members present
and voting.
3.4. The Board shall meet at least four times a year on dates agreed by the Board.
Additional meetings may be called by the Chair and shall be called upon the request of at least
four members.
3.5. The Board will be quorate if at least four members are present.
3.6. The Chair and Vice-Chair will be elected by the Board for a period of one year and
may be re-elected. In the event of the Chair and Vice-Chair not being present the
Board shall have power to elect a Chair from amongst the members present at the
meeting for the duration of that meeting.
3.7. The secretariat will be provided by the organisation chairing for the year.
4.0 Accountability and other arrangements
4.1. Whilst the work of the Board may influence the decision and policy making of member
organisations, those Members appreciate that they are independent of each other and need to
make their own decisions in relation to the work outcomes of the Board and implementation in
accordance with their own organisation’s procedures. Their responsibilities cannot be delegated
to the Board. Each member representative therefore remains accountable to their own
organisation.
4.2. Every effort will be made to ensure that decisions are taken by consensus. In the
event of a consensus not being reached, a decision will be reached by a simple majority
of members present and voting at the meeting, with each member of the
Board having one vote. In the event of it not being possible to reach a decision by
a simple majority of members present and voting, the Chair will have an additional
casting vote. Voting shall generally be by way of show of hands or, where agreed
by a simple majority of members present and voting, by secret ballot.
4.3. Where conflict is unavoidable, members are expected to respect each other’s’ views
and seek to identify and deal with the issues of concern. If necessary, the Chair of
the Board will identify a mutually acceptable person/group, or process, to guide the
relevant partners to a resolution.
4.4. Information sharing between Board members will accord with all relevant statutory provisions
and any local information sharing protocols.
4.5. Where appropriate business will be done virtually in order to progress the work of the Board
in between meetings.
4.6. All business of the Board shall remain confidential unless agreed otherwise.
4.7. These terms of reference and governance arrangements will be reviewed by the Board as
necessary, but not less than every two years.
5
Appendix 3
Harrogate district Public Services Leadership Board
Expression of interest form- VCS representative
Please complete the below expression of interest form and return to Ann Byrne at
ann.byrne@harrogate.gov.uk by the 1st September 2015.
1.0 Applicant details
Name:
Organisation:
Position in organisation:
Contacts: email
Phone
Address
2. Partnerships & Groups
Please list below any key strategic partnerships and groups that you currently sit on, the
geographical area covered and indicate whether you are there to represent your
organisation or as a representative of the VCS.
Name of partnership or
group
Geographic area
covered
Organisation
Y/N
Representative
Y/N
3. Communication networks
What communication networks do you have in place/ would you use to feedback/ collect
views/ engage other VCS organisations in order to ensure that the VCS contributes to
delivering against the PSLB priorities and work programmes (please bullet).
6
4. Experience
Please detail in no more than 1 side of A4 how you would fulfil the role of being the VCS
representative on the Harrogate district Public Services Leadership Board.
7