The Partnership recognises the importance of taking a strategic approach to succession planning and a key priority for 2008/9 will be to draw up a framework for succession planning. In 2006/7 a Task and Finish group was established to research the development and potential of a sustainable succession strategy for the Partnership beyond NDC funding.

The group will be agreeing the process with the Accountable Body to consider the range of alternative options and following the commissioning of a Neighbourhood Renewal Advisor, a succession strategy and action plan will be produced for the approval of the Board, GOWM and the AB by the end of the first quarter of the 2008/9 financial year.

The strategy will take into consideration the current work of the individual themes and the success so far (for example) in Community Safety and the Health themes in mainstreaming activities. This approach will ensure that the most appropriate strategy will be identified for the overall Programme to achieve the following objective:

• To develop a succession strategy to ensure that the changes are sustainable and will contribute to transforming the area beyond 2011.