LAA Feasibility Testing
The Local Government White Paper "Strong & Prosperous Communities" detailed the Government's intention to increase the role that Local Area Agreements (LAA) will play as the key mechanism to identify the priority issues for a locality which will be addressed by the Local Strategic Partnership.
The “new model” LAAs will be introduced in Summer 2008. They will be the only place where central government will agree targets with local authorities and their partners. They will be supported by a new un-ringfenced area based ‘LAA grant', which will come in the form of a single payment. This will enable Oldham to simplify it's funding and performance management arrangements, and focus more time and resource on improving the quality of life for local people.
To help Government develop the proposals for the “new model” LAAs further, they have selected Oldham as one of a small number of areas to test the feasibility of the new arrangements. The Feasibility Testing covers three areas:
- Priority Setting
- Data Interchange
- Finance
The final report from the Oldham Partnership is available below, along with previous drafts which were published during the course of the Feasibility Testing.
- Feasibility Testing - Oldham Partnership Final Report
- Feasibility Testing - Oldham Partnership (Draft 9th July 2007)
- Feasibility Testing - Oldham Partnership (Draft 2nd May 2007)
- Feasibility Testing - Oldham Partnership (Draft 1st May 2007)
Along with Oldham, Cumbria was also selected from the North West region to take part in the Feasibility Testing. In conjunction with Government Office North West, a joint North West response has also been prepared
It is hoped that Communities & Local Government will take on board the feedback from the Feasibility Testing in Oldham, the North West, and other regions as they develop a new model LAA which will enable Local Authorities and Local Strategic Partnerships to affect long-term lasting change in their areas.