Local area agreements (LAAs) are central to the
Government's agenda for local services. The detail is set out in
the 10-year vision for local government and a host of subsequent
related publications under the banner of
local:vision.
The crucial role of the VCS is set out in
Local Area Agreement Guidance, that to be successful an LAA
will need to involve the VCS to help "identify, shape and deliver"
local services. Each LAA should include a 'statement of
involvement', which sets out how the VCS is involved in the
agreement and how the link is made with initiatives such as
ChangeUp and Firm Foundations. It is also worth reviewing
the
Safer
and Stronger Communities Fund Guidance and the
Partnerships
and Local Area Agreements section of the Department
for Communities and Local Government website.
NAVCA has been awarded a Big Lottery Fund grant to help
voluntary and community local infrastructure organisations to
engage in LAAs. The Improving Local Partnerships
(ILP) project will help them to develop their skills, capacity
and knowledge to
- influence local government policy and service
planning
- support the engagement of disadvantaged communities in
decision making about service delivery
- extend reach to black and ethnic minority communities,
disabled people and other marginalised people and
communities
The ILP project will influence local and national policy
through;
- 12 PILOT Projects across the country in targeted
areas
- good practice dissemination for all local infrastructure
organisations
- partnership work with national and regional VCS
Organisations and local government agencies
NAVCA has also produced
guidance (Word, 152 KB) for local groups and LIOs that want to
engage in their local area agreement.
Adding value at the sub-regional and district level GMCVO have
kindly agreed to share their paper, which is essentially directed
at local authorities (Word, 62 KB).
Local Area Agreements Research: Round 2 negotiations and early
progress in Round 1
This DCLG-commissioned report explores the negotiation of Round 2
LAAs and the early implementation of Round 1 LAAs. An
executive summary is available on the NAVCA website (pdf
format, 84 KB), the
full
report is available on the DCLG website.
LAAs and homelessness
Homeless Link are currently running
Local
Area Agreements and Homelessness Planning Seminars in every
region across the country.