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Voluntary Sector North West
St. Thomas Centre
Manchester
M12 6FZ
Tel: 0161 276 9300
Fax: 0161 276 9301
Email: info@vsnw.org.uk
LAA Background
What are they?
Local Area Agreements (LAAs) are the mechanism by which central government agrees priorities with individual local authorities and their partners for the local area. They were first introduced in 2004 and by 2008 all LAA’s were based on an area’s local Sustainable Community Strategy and national priorities as identified in the National Indicator set. It is negotiated between central government, represented by the Government Office in the region, and the local authority and partners.
The local authority’s partners are part of the Local Strategic Partnership, which is made up of:
· Local authority
· Public sector bodies, such as police, fire service, primary care trusts
· Business and commerce
· Third Sector organisations
The Local Strategic Partnership is usually made of four policy areas or thematic blocks, which reflect the Sustainable Community Strategy:
· Children and Young People
· Economic development and Envrionment
· Healthier Communities and Older People
· Safer and Stronger Communities
LAA’s exist in all single tier authority areas (metropolitan or unitary) and all two-tier areas (a county authority with districts).
The new Local Area Agreement funding from 2008 is no longer based on specific themed funding but on a ‘single pot’ which is intended to allow greater flexibility between the policy areas and meeting local need as well as national priorities. This funding is made up of:
· Revenue Support Grant
· Area Based Grant – which is a non-ringfenced general grant which can be used to allocate funding using specific policy criteria
· Specific Grants – only where necessary
This funding is intended to be allocated on a three year to bring more stability to local authority finances. In addition, the reporting requirements have been made less onerous than in previous years and the assessment of efficient use of resources will be made through the new Comprehensive Area Assessment.
How is the Voluntary and Community Sector Involved?
When LAA’s were first launched Government required local authorities to provide a Statement of Community Involvement which was signed by the local voluntary and community sector (VCS) stating how they had been involved in the development of the Local Area Agreement.
There should be representation from the voluntary and community sector on the LAA Steering Group and also on each of the four themed blocks. The voluntary and community sector should not only be involved in shaping the Local Area Agreement, but also in delivering the outcomes.
Two years later, with the introduction of the new Model Local Area Agreement, there is an assumption that the voluntary and community sector are involved in the negotiation and delivery of the LAA in their area, and there is now no requirement for this statement.
The level of involvement by the VCS both in the North West and nationally is variable with very good examples of the involvement of the sector in negotiating the inclusion of both local priorities and National Indicators which both benefit the sector and which the sector can deliver.
How is VSNW involved?
VSNW in partnership with Government Office North West held an event to promote the involvement of the third sector in the negotiation and delivery of Local Area Agreements. This event brought together both local authority and third sector organisations to share their experiences in workshops and also to listen to examples of good practice from within the North West – Sefton - and also from the East of England - Norfolk.
Promoting Third Sector Involvement in the Negotiation and Delivery of Local Area Agreements
At a very well attended event Jacquie O’Neill, of Government Office North West, said that her role was to encourage colleagues who are negotiating LAA’s to focus on ensuring and prioritising third sector indicators and in taking seriously the role that the third sector can play in delivering services and activities that can achieve other outcomes for the LAA. It was not just about a thriving third sector but about how organisations can achieve their outcomes on a range of public service issues.
Presentations
VCS Engagement Project - Case Study from Norfolk - Claire Collen, Voluntary Norfolk (including notes)
Documents from the Event
- Third Sector Guide for Public Sector Commissioning in Norfolk - Voluntary Norfork. Download or purchase a folder copy for £12 plus £4 p+p from catherine.phillips@voluntarynorfolk.org.uk.
Conference Report
A full summary of the day, including notes from all the workshops and action points is available in the Conference Report.
Research
VSNW carried out research in 2006 into the level of involvement of the VCS in the nine NW pilot areas and you can read more about this in ·
It commissioned further research in 2008 into the future funding of Community Empowerment through Local Area Agreements and the report will be available shortly.
Multi Area Agreements
Some local authorities felt that some issues are best dealt with by working together across boundaries and have come together to develop a cross-boundary local area agreement (LAA) or Multi Area Agreement (MAA). They bring together key players in flexible ways to tackle major issues that include:
- skills deficits
- housing market imbalances
- transport and infrastructure projects
- economic development.
MAAs complement and do not duplicate the work of existing LAAs, the new performance framework or existing regional strategies. This cross-boundary agreement can include partners across towns, cities or sub-regions.
MAAs are similar to LAAs in that strategic partners across boundaries can agree targets and pooling of funding arrangements with their government office (GO). There is a preference for aligning rather than pooling funding at MAA level to ensure control of spending. MAAs need:
- robust governance arrangements
- visible political leadership
- streamlined performance and accountability framework.
Each MAA needs to be localised and respond to circumstances specific to its area. No two MAAs will or should look the same.
North West Multi Area Agreements
As at September 2008 the following MAA had been signed off in the North West:
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Greater Manchester: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan. The MAA is focussing on employment, skills and raising wage income.
Others being developed are:
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Liverpool City Region: Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Wirral and Halton.
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Fylde Coast: Blackpool , Lancashire, Fylde and Wyre.
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Pennine Lancashire: Blackburn, Lancashire and Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley.
Useful Links for more information about LAA's and MAA's
The VSNW contact for Local Area Agreements is
0161 276 9303
Featured Event
15 September 2010
North West Community Empowerment Practitioners' Forum
Networking event for community empowerment practitioners and community development workers in the North West
Latest News
8 September 2010
Second wave of National Survey of Charities and Social Enterprises launched
The Office for Civil Society has launched the second wave of the National Survey of Charities and Social Enterprises, giving invited charities, social enterprises and voluntary and community groups in every local authority area an opportunity to have their voices heard.
8 September 2010
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service: call for nominations
The Office for Civil Society (OCS) in the Cabinet Office is inviting communities in the North West to nominate outstanding local voluntary groups for next year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups.
8 September 2010
Equal Support: Big Lottery Fund report into specialist VCS infrastructure
New report explores whether identity-based voluntary and community groups need identity-based organisational development.
Events & Trainings
VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West
