There are three Area Partnerships:

1. North
2. South East
3. West

Each is responsible for:

• providing leadership and direction within the Area to focus on key priorities and taking an advocacy and influencing role on behalf of the Area;
• stimulating ambition and creativity in the shaping and delivery of quality services to meet the needs and aspirations of the people in the Area it serves;
• planning and co-ordinating, as appropriate, local service commissioning and resource allocation to activities developed in partnership which will best meet the agreed priorities of the Area;
• proactively engaging with and involve all key stakeholders from the public, private voluntary and community sectors in joint working;
• ensuring that the community voice is heard and represented at all levels of planning and decision-making; and
• enabling and encouraging a strong and mutually beneficial interface between the local authority, wider partnership and local communities. 

Instrumental in fulfilling this role is the preparation and subsequent implementation of an Area Implementation Framework (AIF).  This AIF outlines the aspirations and ambitions of those communities living in South East, West and North Northumberland.  It supports the delivery of the Sustainable Community Strategy within that particular part of the county.

Additional background information on the Area Partnerships is available here.