What is the Local Area Agreement?
Local Area Agreements aim to improve services in local areas by better co-ordination between central government, local authorities and partners, including the Voluntary and Community Sector. LAA's bring extra Government money for agreed local priorities, while streamlining existing funds and targets.
Most Local Area Agreements have been built up through the following 'blocks' or policy areas:
 |
Children and Young People |
|
|
Healthy Communities and Older People |
|
|
Safer and Stronger Communities |
|
|
Economic Development and Enterprise |
In B&NES we have used these 'blocks'. The Bath and North East Somerset LAA was implemented on 1 April 2007, and was expected to run for 3 years. However, for 2008 the Government have brought in a new LAA process with a set of 198 National Indicators of which we have to choose up to 35 indicators locally, with an additional 16 statutory Early Years and Education indicators. This new LAA is currently being developed and will be finalised in June 2008. It draws on the Council Core Strategy and will relate to the Sustainable Community Strategy. See THE NEW LAA 2008 below.
The Voluntary and Community Sector has an important role to play in the strategic direction of the LAA – both as key stakeholders in its development, and as deliverers of services. The work of the Voluntary Sector Steering Group was integral to the development of the original LAA and the VCS Steering Group have also had an input into the Draft New LAA..
The role of the Voluntary Sector Steering Group has been to maintain an oversight and ensure that key issues pertinent to the sector are reflected in the LAA. It contains representation from VCS infrastructure organisations in Bath and North East Somerset. .
To read the original Local Area Agreement for Bath & North East Somerset please click here. This document contains the complete LAA submission, including Equalities Impact Assessment, Statement of Community Involvement and all stretch target documentation.
To view Bath and North East Somerset Council powerpoint presentation on the LAA click here.
Recent Updates Regarding the LAA
Local Area Agreement Summary (LAA) JUNE 2008. This is a summary of progress on the new Local Area Agreement. Click here.
|
|
SUBMITTED LAA 2008 - this is awaiting approval from Whitehall - probably by end June. Click here. |
|
|
LAA Timetable - on the next steps for the VCS. Click here. |
|
|
Bath & North East Somerset Story of Place - Click here |
|
|
Definitions –
National Indicators for Local Authorities and Local Authority
Partnerships: Definitions - Stronger and Safer Communities - Click here. Definitions - Local Economy and Environmental Sustainability. Click here. Definitions - Children and Young People - Click here. Definitions - Adult Health & Well-being and Tackling Exclusion & Promoting Equality - Click here. |
THEME STORIES:
Safer Communities
Stronger Communities
Healthier Communities & Older People
Children & Young People
Economic Development & Enterprise
Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change
The Local Area Agreement & Health and Social Care. Workshop presented by B&NES Voluntary Sector Health and Social Care Network. Thursday 20 March, 10 – 12 noon, St Luke’s Church Hall, Wellsway, Bath. For details see VSF Events Page
The following documents were published recently by the Dep’t for Communities and Local Government (CLG).
|
|
Creating Strong and Prosperous Communities, Statutory Guidance: a consultation - this is the statutory guidance on implementing the new local government performance framework (this covers LSPs, LAAs, MAAs and outlines governance and engagement - including engagement with the third sector and the duty to involve)Download from CLG website. |
|
|
Principles of Representation: A framework for effective third sector representation in Local Strategic Partnerships - A consultation document. Written by a group of national third sector umbrella bodies in conjunction with CLG, how to improve representativeness of local third sector networks/forums especially re: LSPs. Download from CLG website. |
|
|
Development of
the new Local Area Agreement Framework. Operational Guidance
2007 - Not a consultation document. Technical guidance about
Local Area Agreements. Download from
CLG website. |