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LEADING LOCALITIES

LEADING LOCALITIES. The councillor role in local area agreements and local strategic partnerships. c ontext for LAAs and strengthened LSPs. global challenges rising public expectations tighter fiscal constraint public services not well co-ordinated

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LEADING LOCALITIES

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  1. LEADING LOCALITIES The councillor role in local area agreements and local strategic partnerships

  2. context for LAAs and strengthened LSPs • global challenges • rising public expectations • tighter fiscal constraint • public services not well co-ordinated • too much ‘one size fits all’ from Whitehall • we need a better way to govern localities

  3. why now? • recognition that UK government remains too centralist • all major political parties committed to greater ‘localism’ • complex problems need joined up responses • 30 year opportunity to rethink how places are best shaped and governed

  4. the current consensus • ‘Our vision is of revitalised local authorities, working with their partners, to reshape public services around the citizens and communities that use them’. (LG White Paper Oct 2006) • ‘Councils should be the collective instrument of local people .. we set out a clear agenda for returning power to local authorities’ (David Cameron, The Permissive State) • ‘Liberal Democrats have long been committed to devolution and effective local government’ (Lib Dem consultation paper No.85 Jan 2007)

  5. what LAAs offer • greater devolution and local autonomy • the chance for elected members to steer the totality of public services in their area • value for money from joined up services • coherent and integrated government for the citizen • scope to win ‘hearts and minds’ on long-term challenges (climate change, cohesion, health) • measurable better outcomes on the ground

  6. current realities:common councillor perceptions of LAAs • yet more bureaucracy • run by officers not members • outcomes decided by Government Offices • too many partnerships with too little accountability • counties dominating districts • lots of process for little result • complexity, jargon, and acronyms • a journey into ‘LAA LAA land’

  7. but the basic principles remain sound • defining a shared agenda unique to each locality • joining together the totality of public services in an area • balancing central and local priorities • making and holding to tough political choices • pooling public resources to best effect • improving public services and citizen satisfaction • achieving buy-in from local people • tracking the results achieved • reviewing and scrutinising progress • delivering better quality of life and wellbeing

  8. what is planned for 2008? • LAAs already in place in all 150 upper-tier English local authority areas • All 150 areas to develop new LAAs by June 2008 • new set of 200 national indicators covers all locally delivered public services (councils, health, police etc) • each area will identify up to 35 ‘improvement targets’ • negotiated with Ministers, via Government Offices • these will sit alongside local priorities in LAA • new duty on LSP partners to co-operate in achieving all LAA outcomes • LAAs and LSPs move from ‘margins to mainstream’

  9. joining the totality of public services joining the totality of public services County Council £1.8bn District Councils £0.4bn Job Centre Plus £2.9bn Learning and Skills £0.3bn Police £0.3bn Funding figures indicative of large county area Health £1.2bn Fire and Safety £50m Higher Education £0.4bn Third Sector VCS RDA £200m

  10. your own area’s LSP executiveor public service board Local Authorities • note to explain whether two-tier, unitary etc. (SLIDE FOR COMPLETION LOCALLY)

  11. Central Govt Wider LSP (sets SCS) VCS and business sectors involved in LSP and in overview/scrutiny of LAA GO Health Police Emp. Local council LSP ‘main board’ Others negotiations Denotes democratic lead Local area agreement (sets outcomes) Childrens services Crime and disorder Economic and env. Health and wellbeing LGA view of local partnership landscape, with lead members/portfolio holders taking an active role in LSP and thematic partnerships in developing the LAA

  12. the case for further new powers "I believe that local government is an essential part of our system of government today. Local government's place-shaping role - using powers and influence creatively to promote the well-being of a community and its citizens - is crucial to help improve satisfaction and prosperity through greater local choice and flexibility” Lyons Report 2007 Better outcomes in economic development and regeneration need more devolution of powers in transport, planning, economic development and housing (as promised in Sub National Review) Multi-area agreements provide a route to joint working across LA boundaries

  13. key roles for councillors • political leadership and steering of local partnerships • extending from LSPs through to CDRPs, childrens trusts, health/wellbeing partnerships • overview and scrutiny of LAA, and of the input made by partners • ensuring council is active as ‘accountable body’ for LAA and for decisions of LSP • taking LAA principles to neighbourhood level (mini-LAAs, small area boards)

  14. if we can pull this off, is it anything new? • in many ways, a return to roots of local government • parallels with city leadership in Victorian era, using ‘permissive’ legislation • needs a change of culture, from Ministers, civil servants, officers, councillors, and citizens

  15. what can councillors do now? • identify lessons from first generation LAA • review LSP governance and membership • strengthen thematic LSP sub-partnerships • invest in partner relationships and trust building • update evidence base for community strategy • strengthen overview and scrutiny across all LSP partners, tracking progress on the LAA • introduce LAA principles at neighbourhood level • help tell the public what is happening, in language that people can understand

  16. useful sources • IDeA Knowledge www.idea.gov.uk • LGA publications www.lga.gov.uk • ‘prosperous communities II, vive la devolution!’ • ‘a very english revolution – delivering better and bolder LAAs’ • Pushing back the frontiers (Multi-area agreementa) • IDeA and LGIU publication ‘a wider conversation - effective scrutiny of LSPs’www.idea.gov.uk • Leadership Centre for Local Government publication ‘politics of place’www.localleadership.gov.uk • Communities and Local Government website www.communities.gov.uk

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