Local Area Agreement

What is the Local Area Agreement (LAA)?

Local Area Agreements (LAAs) are a new element in the Government's policy for improving local services. At their heart, LAAs aim to:

• Secure local solutions to local issues
• A focus on outcomes and priorities
• Join up public services
• Working across boundaries
• Working together
• Simplify government funding streams

The Devon LAA is one of 21 LAA pilots that will run for three years from April 2005. Another 66 areas signed their agreements in March 2006. The Government plans that the whole country will be covered by LAAs by 2007

The LAA allows for more freedom and flexibility for local authorities and their partners to:

• Use funds flexibly
• Determine local outcomes

within a broad framework set by Government. Local authorities (with their partners) draw up plans to meet the outcomes and agree local priorities and stretching targets.

The LAA - it's difficult - but worth it. If we get it right, we can expect:

• More efficient service delivery
• More weight to local priorities
• Better targeting
• Better outcomes

Local Area Agreement (LAA) - what are its target areas?

The 3 principles of the LAA are:

• Prevention
• Targeting greatest need
• Partnership approach

The Government has set broad outcomes and indicators relating to four LAA blocks:

• Children and Young People,
• Safer and Stronger Communities
• Healthier Communities and Older People
• Economy and Enterprise

In Devon, our targets around these blocks are ambitious, and fall into the following categories:

Children and Young People

• Improved physical and mental health
• Improved life chances for our most vulnerable children
• Safe, secure and suitable housing
• High aspirations and ambitions for young people

Safer and Stronger Communities

• Volume crime reduced by 15%
• Domestic violence and abuse reduced
• Alcohol and drug related crime and disorder reduced
• Anti-social behaviour reduced
• Prejudice and hate related crime tackled
• Strengthening the voluntary and community sector
• Positive and constructive working relationships between the statutory sector and the voluntary and community sector
• More people volunteering
• More attractive, safer and cleaner public spaces
• Increased capacity for rural communities to shape their own future

Healthier Communities and Older People

• Improved levels of physical activity
• More healthy eating
• Improved mental health and emotional wellbeing
• More empowerment for older people to make positive contribution to their community
• Improved access to services for older people
• More older people assisted to live in their own homes
• Reduction in alcohol misuse
• Reduction in number of people in Devon who smoke

Economic Development and Enterprise

• Improved workforce skills
• Greater economic inclusion
• Increased productivity through promoting the environment as an economic driver
• Provision of Infrastructure for Innovation

In addition Regeneration and Housing are crosscutting issues, relevant to all four blocks.

The Devon Local Area Agreement can be found at www.devon.gov.uk/local_area_agreement

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