 |
Local Area Agreements
What is a local area agreement?
When did it start and how long will it run for?
Who are the key partners?
What outcomes do the partners want to achieve?
What funds are available to help the partnership achieve targets?
What does the Government want to achieve from this policy?
How will Nottinghamshire benefit from the Local Area Agreement?
In June 2005, the Government announced that Nottinghamshire would be one of 66 local authorities to negotiate a Local Area Agreement (LAA) in Round One.
Local Area Agreements represent a new relationship between central and local government and key partners. They are a three year agreement giving more freedom and flexibility to achieve local solutions that meet local needs - with the incentive of gaining extra funding if successful.
What is a local area agreement?
A Local Area Agreement is a three year partnership-working agreement that sets out the priorities for a local area; and how these will be addressed by partners working together to deliver a better quality of life for local people.
The LAA will give local authorities and their service delivery partners the flexibility to find local solutions to local problems and to prioritise spending to achieve the agreed priorities. It is negotiated by the Government, represented by the regional Government Office and a local area represented by local authorities and other key partners.
When did it start and how long will it run for?
Agreement began in April 2006 and will run until the end of March 2009.
Key partners include Nottinghamshire County Council, The 7 District Councils, Primary Care Trusts, Local Strategic Partnerships, Voluntary and Community Organisations, Nottinghamshire Police, Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, Jobcentre Plus, Learning and Skills Council and the Probation Service.
Partners have agreed what needs to be done to improve service provision in four distinct areas of community life:
Healthier Communities and Older People
Economic Development and Enterprise
Safer and Stronger Communities
Children and Young People
These 4 areas are termed “blocks” and the partners have agreed to deliver certain improvements across these 4 thematic blocks.
What outcomes do the partners want to achieve?
Outcomes are a mix of national and local priorities. In total there are 19 overall outcomes and approximately 60 priority measures in the Local Area Agreement. Within these 60 priority measures are 12 “stretch” targets. These are where targets have been set above the level of performance that would usually be expected. If achieved these “stretch” targets will attract additional £20m funding as a reward.
What funds are available to help the partnership achieve targets?
Partners have agreed to pool £31m of government funds into the Nottinghamshire LAA to help the partners achieve the agreed targets. Nottinghamshire County Council administers this funding.
LAA partners have agreed to “align” £61m of funding. That is, they have agreed to commit £61m of their own existing budgets to help achieve the LAA outcomes. This money continues to be paid directly to individual organisations rather than Nottinghamshire County Council.
What does the Government want to achieve from this policy?
The Government's major objectives for the LAA are to:
How will Nottinghamshire benefit from the Local Area Agreement?
The LAA has potential benefits for us all because:
|