In themselves they are laudable and many of us have spent our lives trying to encourage them. All this may be at risk if both partnerships and community involvement are not made more effective. The point is that processes of partnership and involvement are means to an end and that end is the more efficient and equitable delivery of services and facilities. At the same time as improving the liaison between and within agencies and communities we should be examining the processes of delivery. They are the opposite sides of the same coin.
More work needs to be done on the processes, structures and vehicles of partnership working.
Too often a partnership is just a bunch of people from different organisations who just happen to be present in the same room, giving the impression of dancing together while actually standing still. Community involvement must be given its place in these developing networks. Delivery should be the main criterion for thought and action. Working with a housing community some years ago, I had just finished running a workshop on the problems and opportunities of the estate.