An analysis of County Sports Partnerships in England: The fragility, challenges and complexity of partnership working in sports development

摘要

The management, use and reliance upon multi-agency partnerships in the field of public sector sports development became increasingly important following the election of the ‘New’ Labour government in 1997. In this study one example of a multi-agency partnership – County Sports Partnership (CSP) – will be examined through a case study analysis of four CSPs in the East Midlands region of England. A review of the theoretical and conceptual literature around partnership working will inform an appraisal of the impact of CSP arrangements in this region. The theoretical framework of partnership dynamics is utilized to explore the reality of partnership working in sports development in conjunction with the findings of four in-depth interviews that were conducted with Chief Executive Officers and senior managers in each of the CSP regions. In particular, consideration will be given to the potential implications and issues of ‘working in partnership’ for public sector sports development officers and managers who negotiate the complex and challenging policy environment surrounding multi-agency working in sport. The key findings of the research include the extent to which there appears to be a misunderstanding of the CSP role amongst some CSP partner agencies; the fragility of partnership working; the importance of relationship management; and the complex shifting politics of sports development policy.