Be Birmingham is the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) for the City that brings together partners from the business, community, voluntary, faith and public sectors to deliver a better quality of life in Birmingham.

The LSP incorporates seven thematic partnership groups. The Cultural Partnership (BCP) is comprised of representatives from the museums, galleries, heritage, libraries, arts, events and sports sectors.

The BCP's three key aims, contained within the Local Area Agreement (2008-2011), are to:

1. Increase adult participation in sport and active recreation.
2. Increase the use of cultural facilities in four constituencies with low participation
3. Improve perceptions of Birmingham as a cultural capital.

In 2009, KKP was appointed to identify the Cultural Partnership's existing targets, measures and data sources. The purpose of the work has been to support BCP in its development of a coherent, cost effective and evidence-based framework to monitor a series of key performance indicators (KPIs).

In addition to a review of the data being used to support the KPIs, we examined recently introduced and proposed information systems such as Birmingham City Council's Business Transformation scheme, Active People and its forthcoming intelligent card system - The One card. We reviewed alternative data sources such as the use of participation surveys and analysis of existing front of desk data from leisure centres. More fundamentally than the data sources, we also critiqued the measures and even the targets themselves.

The result has been a top to tail review of existing and proposed information systems; a series of proposed modifications to the targets and measures while remaining true to their core objectives and an appraisal of the financial implications. The resultant package is designed to maximise value for money and remain as close as possible to existing spend while achieving significant improvements in understanding, resource and value for money.

The recommended system has the potential to provide a much richer source of data across the three target areas; to involve a shorter time lag between event, measure and outcome; to track progress towards targets more closely and to offer an early warning of any deviation from target thereby improving service delivery.

Pete Millward, Principal Consultant heads up KKP's Research and Evaluation team and led on this work. He said,

"The Cultural Partnership's maturity in inviting us in, to take a step back and provide an independent review of its existing systems and its use of data is refreshing. Many organisations that make such statements are in reality looking for us to endorse existing practices; BCP were honestly saying take a look round and tell us what you think. It shows a level of trust and self confidence that is often missing and augurs well for the Partnership's ability to evolve and grow. Because of this, it has been a pleasure to work with the Partnership and, if implemented, it is believed that the proposed measures will help it to develop a more rounded appreciation of the factors involved in the realisation of its key aims. This will in turn lead to better services and an improved quality of life for residents, employees and visitors to the City."