Local Area Agreements What, when and where

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Local Area Agreements - What, when and where

• Paul Jones
• Local Government Team

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The Presentation

• Local Area Agreements the policy context
• Local Area Agreements - what are they?
• Process, timetable and some headline messages

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LAAs as a way of coordinating this activity?
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LAAs and the strategy for Local Government
Citizen engagement participation
Vibrant local leadership
localvision
Service delivery performance framework
A new relationship
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Local Area Agreements - aims

• Single conversation between central and local
  government and partners - shared understanding of
  priorities, focused on outcomes
• More flexible use of resources, rationalisation
  and simplification of funding streams
• Opportunity to seek freedoms and flexibilities
  e.g. streamline monitoring auditing
  arrangements
• Strengthen relationships between local partners

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Local Area Agreements What are they?

• An agreement between Government, the local
  authority and other partners in an area
• Focused on a set of outcomes that are agreed by
  all as key priorities for the area to achieve
• Outcomes picked will reflect national priorities
  from PSA and floor targets
• But also local priorities from community
  strategies etc
• Government lets the local area decide how the
  outcomes are achieved and gives partners
  flexibility to pool budgets, develop
  cross-cutting synergies etc
• Three year duration with annual refresh

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Some outcomes

• Children and Younger People Stay safe, Be
  Healthy, Enjoy and Achieve, Achieve economic
  well-being, Make a positive contribution
• Stronger and Safer Communities Reduce crime by
  15, reassure the public, reduce fear of crime
  and anti social behaviour, reduce harm caused by
  drugs, cleaner, safer and greener communities
• Healthier Communities and Older People Improve
  health of population, increased life expectancy,
  reduce health inequalities, improved quality of
  life and independence of vulnerable older people.
• Economic Development outcomes around
  productivity, skills, worklessness, community
  enterprise, etc.

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Example Children and Young People Block

• Outcome Health inequalities for children and
  young people are reduced in targeted areas
• Sub-outcome Improved healthy lifestyles in
  children and young people
• Activity 1 Increase leisure and recreational
  opportunities for children and young people in
  out of school
• Activity 2 Promote healthy eating in Early
  Years settings, schools and youth centres
• Activity 3 Promote programmes that reduce
  numbers of young people misusing drugs and
  alcohol
• Indicator 1 Obesity in children aged 11 reduces
  from baseline figure
• Indicator 2 Children and young people reporting
  satisfaction with access to leisure and
  recreational facilities increases
• Indicator 3 Reduction in children and young
  people admitted to hospital from alcohol abuse.

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Example Healthier communities and older people

• Outcome Improving health
• Sub-outcome Households living in a healthier and
  safer domestic environment
• Activity 1 NHS single assessment process is
  extended to include an appraisal of the domestic
  environment to identify the risk of slips, trips
  and falls and the presence of dampness.
• Activity 2 Renovation grant programme activity
  is targeted at identified hazards and dampness
  likely to cause respiratory illness.
• Indicator 1Reduction in AE admissions resulting
  from slips, trips and falls in the home.
• Indicator 2 Reduction in the levels of childhood
  asthma

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The process

• Planning, preparation and awareness raising
• Partners submit longlist of high level outcomes
• Define activities, outputs, indicators and
  targets
• Identify funding streams, freedoms and
  flexibilities needed to support the delivery of
  the agreement
• First draft of agreement and Departments comment
• Detailed negotiations and final drafting of
  agreement governance, performance management
  and engagement of partners

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The programme
Government announced LAA pilots
LAA Guidance published by ODPM
First 6-month review initial assessment of
progress
July 04
Oct 04
Apr 04
Jan05
Apr 05
Oct 05
July 05
Jan06
Apr 06
July 06
Oct 06
Jan07
Apr 07
July 07
20 pilot LAAs commenced
Further 66 LAAs due to commence
Negotiation on further 66 LAAs began
LAA Prospectus published by ODPM
Remaining 63 due to agree
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Where are we in the SW?

• Devon and Dorset pilots just been through first
  six month performance review
• Negotiations are well underway with phase 2
  authorities Cornwall, Somerset, Swindon, S.Glos
  and Poole
• Just about to start planning for the remaining
  eight SW authorities who will be negotiating
  their LAA in 2006/07

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A commentary on progress to date

• Evolving policy framework
• Positive support but needs time to develop
• Some confusion and cynicism letting go
• Strong leadership essential
• Broad range of aims, aspirations and objectives
• Challenges strength of partnership working
• Being effective and inclusive is a challenge
• Process and timetable critical start with
  outcomes not funding!

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The developing policy context

• NHS reform and education proposals
• Realignment of Police authority boundaries
• Consultation on the role and future of LSPs
• ODPM stocktake on LG policy
• City Summits
• LAAs - performance management or relationship
  management?

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LAAs The spectrum?
Reformatted Community Strategy and LPSA

• Redefinition of public sector
• service delivery
• Employment Trusts
• Children's Trusts
• Sustainable Communities
• Respect Agenda

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Before ..
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And after..?
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What is our strategic aim?

• We will dramatically simplify the many funding
  streams available to local areas through Local
  Area Agreements. We will also give councils
  greater stability by providing three-year
  funding. We will continue to deliver efficiency
  savings and improvements to local services
  through joint procurement, shared services,
  streamlining administrative structures while
  promoting decision-making at the level that will
  make a difference. We will continue to
  strengthen the community leadership role of local
  authorities working in partnership with public,
  voluntary and private bodies.