UNDERSTANDING LAAs : UNDERSTANDING LAAs AN OVERVIEW OF THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES 7th November 2007


Going to cover….: Going to cover…. The role of the Government Office and regional priorities Local Government White Paper and new performance framework LAAs New framework What will an LAA look like? Negotiation process and timeline Challenges and risks Opportunities


How GO-East Works: How GO-East Works


Slide4: The National Agenda in the Region Sustainable growth and prosperity Children, Young People and skills Healthier communities and older people Stronger, safer communities and improved quality of life


Sustainable Growth & Prosperity: Sustainable Growth & Prosperity Raise the productivity of the UK economy Promote world class science and innovation in the UK Deliver reliable and efficient transport networks that support economic growth Deliver the conditions for business success in the UK Improve the economic performance of all English regions and reduce the gap in economic growth rates between regions Maximise employment opportunity for all Increase long term housing supply and affordability Lead the global effort to avoid dangerous climate change Secure a healthy natural environment for today and the future


Children, Young People and Skills: Children, Young People and Skills Improve the skills of the population, on the way to ensuring a world-class skills base by 2020 Halve the number of children in poverty by 2010-11, on the way to eradicating child poverty by 2020 Raise the educational achievement of all children and young people Narrow the gap in educational achievement between children from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers Improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people Improve children and young people’s safety Increase the number of children and young people on the path to success


Healthier Communities & Older People: Healthier Communities & Older People Address the disadvantage that individuals experience because of their gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief Increase the proportion of socially excluded adults in settled accommodation and employment, education or training Promote better health and wellbeing for all Tackle poverty and promote greater independence and wellbeing in later life Ensure better care for all


Stronger & Safer Communities &Better Quality of Life: Stronger & Safer Communities & Better Quality of Life Ensure controlled, fair migration that protects the public and contributes to economic growth Build more cohesive, empowered and active communities Deliver a successful Olympic Games and Paralympic Games with a sustainable legacy and get more children and young people taking part in high quality PE and sport Make communities safer Deliver a more effective, transparent and responsive Criminal Justice System for victims and the public Reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drugs


THE LGWP – STRONG AND PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES : THE LGWP – STRONG AND PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES a stronger role for local authorities to lead their communities, shape their areas and respond to local needs more space for local authorities and other local service providers to innovate and respond to local needs In exchange for: more bottom-up accountability stronger local authority leadership better and more efficient services tougher intervention when things go wrong


LAAs - Mark 1: LAAs - Mark 1 2004/05 21 pilot areas – Suffolk and Peterborough In East of England 2005/06 Round 2 – Beds, Cambs, Essex, Herts, Luton, Norfolk 2006/07 Round 3 – Southend and Thurrock


LAAs - Mark 1: LAAs - Mark 1 10 Local Area Agreements up and running Partnership working being improved across the region. Improved governance and performance management arrangements being put in place. Improved relationships between the GO and local areas.


LAAs - Mark 1: LAAs - Mark 1 But:- Promised reduction in bureaucracy still to materialise. Disappointment at the number of Enabling Measures (Freedoms and Flexibilities) that have been granted. A reluctance to pool funding.


The New LAA Framework : The New LAA Framework LAAs will continue to be the result of negotiations between central and local government about outcomes and targets to implement priorities for local areas. But changes are being made to give LAAs a more central role, in effect becoming the main way in which local and central government can work together.


Sustainable Communities Strategy & the LAA: Sustainable Communities Strategy & the LAA Local Strategic Partnerships produce a 20 year vision LAA a delivery mechanism for that vision over a three-year period Local areas define priorities and high level outcomes Indicators in place to deliver outcomes Stronger emphasis on cross-cutting themes


The new Performance Framework: The new Performance Framework No duplication in reporting systems – LAAs will be the only place where central government will agree targets. New framework of around 200 indicators, down from approximately 1,200! A dramatic reduction in targets – No more than 35 targets (+ 16 statutory education and early years targets) in each LAA drawn from a new national set of around 198 indicators.


LAA Structure: LAA Structure


DCMS Agenda: DCMS Agenda Encourage more widespread enjoyment of culture and sport Adult participation in sport Use of public libraries Visits to museums or galleries Engagement in the arts Consultation on indicators in Nov/Dec Final list published early in New Year


The New LAA Framework - Finance: The New LAA Framework - Finance Less ring fenced grants – there will be a new un-ring fenced area based LAA grant, with a presumption that all area based funding will go through this route, unless it can be included in mainstream funding, or where there are strong arguments for retaining a ring fence. Greater freedom in spending decisions – there will no longer be a link between funding and targets, so local authorities and partners are able to make decisions about spending priorities locally.


The New LAA Framework: The New LAA Framework Strengthened community leadership role – a statutory requirement for the local authority to develop an LAA and for named partners to co-operate in its development and to have regard to LAA targets. A single annual review – taking into account the information provided by the Comprehensive Area Assessments.


Comprehensive Area Assessments: Comprehensive Area Assessments CAAs will focus on the performance of an area and on how partners are working together to improve that performance CAAs will link closely to LAAs and will provide a further incentive to areas to develop comprehensive and effective LAAs The first CAAs will take place in 2009


LAA Negotiation Timetable: LAA Negotiation Timetable Ongoing - Identification of priorities work within GO September – Phase 1 Guidance 1st October – High level launch event Early October – CSR announcement October/November – High level meetings October - Publication of new Performance Framework


LAA Negotiation Timetable: LAA Negotiation Timetable Late October – Phase 2 Guidance 14th November – Practitioners event. October–December – Initial submissions from areas based on Sustainable Community Strategy. November onwards – Negotiations begin. March 08 – Negotiations completed. June 08 – Ministers sign off new LAAs


Key challenges and risks: Key challenges and risks Clear view of priorities across the whole area and evidence base to support this Needs to have support and full input of partners How does the LAA address local issues in a large two-tier area? Managing Whitehall expectations Local Government Restructuring Timescales


Opportunities for LAAs: Opportunities for LAAs Cross-cutting outcomes and move away from ‘block structure’ Funding flexibilities and funding targeted at priorities Outcome focussed monitoring and inspection Improved quality of life – for all