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Local Area Agreements

In July 2004 the Government released plans to develop Local Area Agreements (LAAs) which aim to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the way Government works with Local Authorities and delivery partners to improve public services.

Local Authorities and Local Strategic Partnerships are responsible for taking LAAs forward and drawing up, in consultation with relevant local partners, a three year framework. The voluntary/community sector (VCS) should be a vital partner in the LAA process to help identify, shape and deliver local services.

LAAs are to be based around four themes:

1. children and young people
2. safer & stronger communities
3. healthier communities & older people
4. economic development & enterprise

There are various funding streams and outcomes attached to each of these themes. The aim is that LAAs will allow the flexibility and freedom for local authorities and their partners to deliver national outcomes in a way that reflects local priorities. Government Offices are responsible for overseeing negotiations and brokering LAAs, monitoring agreements and providing support. LAAs should also link up with other initiatives such as Local Public Service Agreements and Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Both RAISE and Government Office South East (GOSE) have worked to promote the engagement of the VCS with LAAs and one of the results of this work is a CD rom called ‘See the Potential – Improving your Local Area Agreement through voluntary and community action’, which demonstrates the value of the VCS and illustrates how they can be involved in LAAs. It is particularly informative for people working in Local Authorities and a copy of it can be requested by emailing Kathryn Williamson at RAISE: