The Knowsley Better Together Board includes representatives from the public, private and voluntary sector who set the overall strategic direction for the borough through the shared long-term Knowsley 2030 Strategy.
The Knowsley 2030 strategy priority areas for 2025-2030 are Health inequalities (progressed via the Knowsley Health and Wellbeing Board), neighbourhood development (progressed via the Stronger Communities Steering Group), integrated Start for Life (progressed via the Children and Families Partnership), attainment and skills for the future (progressed via the Learning and Skills Partnership Board), with household income and child poverty running as a key theme across all four priorities.
A review of the Board’s governance arrangements has been undertaken which concluded that there are opportunities to strengthen governance arrangements with a greater focus on the purpose of each forum, improved communication between forums and opportunities for creativity and challenge.
The Knowsley Better Together Board endorsed the recommendation that a new partnership governance model be developed which includes:
- Clear accountability – each Knowsley 2030 priority area will be owned by a designated governance group, with defined roles, responsibilities, and lines of accountability.
- Streamlined structure – reducing duplication across boards, ensuring that each group adds value and supports delivery on specific aspects of the Knowsley 2030 Strategy.
- Flexible formats – there is flexibility for some groups to adopt informal formats and flex their membership to reflect the issues and opportunities to be addressed by the group.
- Improved connectivity – stronger links between groups through improved communication and joined-up working.
- Golden thread – the refreshed Knowsley 2030 Strategy will run as a clear golden thread through the revised model.
- Inclusive communication – the model will embed mechanisms for regular, clear, and accessible communication with wider stakeholders and the public.
A key component of the governance model is a reconstituted Knowsley Better Together Board, which will continue to act as the principal governing body overseeing delivery of the Knowsley 2030 Strategy. Its membership will be widened to include strategic partners who will be central to driving forward the refreshed Knowsley 2030 priorities, including the additions of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Metro Mayor, Chair of ForHousing, and Chair of Mersey and West Lancs Teaching Hospital.
The Board will convene twice annually. The first meeting will be a formal public session with its core membership to carry out its governance role and ensure momentum is being maintained towards the delivery of our 2030 priorities. The second session will take the form of an annual summit, engaging a wider attendance and focussing on key issues relevant to the 2030 strategy and will harness collective insight to accelerate partnership impact.
The new governance arrangements will enhance clarity, communication and flexibility across Knowsley’s partnership landscape and continue to drive forward and deliver meaningful outcomes for the Borough over the next five years.