www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Wiltshire Local Area Agreement Newsletter - Issue 2
As it has been some time since the first LAA Newsletter was released I am sending it out again as general background information. This second newsletter gives an update on progress in developing the LAA Framework and sets out the timescales for the rest of the process.
What is it and why are we doing it?
In simple terms LAAs are the delivery plans for community strategies. The aim is that they take the kind of broad objectives that are typically found in such documents and develop them into transparent and measurable action plans which capture: who is responsible for what, how they are going to deliver, and how we will be able to track performance over the three year period of the agreement.
The very act of developing such plans requires partners to sit down and work together to develop a strategy for effective action. Moreover, by taking such an integrated approach there will be opportunities for reducing duplication and bureaucracy. Committing to effective and transparent performance management arrangements also means that progress can be reviewed on a regular basis so we can see what is working, and what is not, and do something about it early on in the process.
Progress to date
As the county community strategy ‘A County Fit for Our Children’ is such a key document in establishing agreed county wide outcomes, it is currently going through a process of review to make sure that it will effectively support the LAA process. A consultation draft is due to be circulated mid February and we would welcome feedback on it during the twelve week consultation window.
To be really effective the LAA needs to combine a ‘top-down’ – ‘bottom-up ‘ approach. It is important to have a strategic framework for the LAA which sets out the broad direction and the underlying principles. However, when it comes to the detail of the outcomes and the action plans for their delivery then this must draw on the experience of those on the front line, including in particular the VCS organisations that know the ground so intimately.
So far, other than the 20 or so presentations that we have done to raise awareness, and the Community Strategy review, the work has been mainly top down in establishing the framework and scoping the project. Much of this work has been done by the volunteers that answered the call to form a ‘steering group’. This composition of this group is listed in the Annex.
This group is due to meet again on 20 Feb to develop a project brief for WiSB to consider and approve at its 6 March meeting. This proposal will outline the top level LAA framework and the scope of the project, and its approval will effectively be the start of the ‘content’ phase of the LAA.
Developing the LAA content
Once we have this mandate from WiSB work will begin in earnest in developing the content of the LAA. The process is meant to help reduce bureaucracy so we will not be setting up new groups for this work and will rely on the existing working groups. At the top level these groups are expected to be based around:
- Children and Young People – The Children’s Trust Board
- Safer and Stronger Communities – The Safer Wiltshire Executive
- Healthy Communities and Older People - Under discussion at the moment
- Economic Development and Enterprise – The Wiltshire and Swindon Economic Partnership
Each of these groups will be expected to draw on the knowledge and experience of the many groups and partnerships in each policy area, so if you have an issue for the LAA and your group have not been engaged by the end of March then please get in contact with the relevant lead group. (Contact details of Block Leaders will be published when the roles have been confirmed).
Timescales
We are required to submit a list of top level outcomes that we would wish to see included in the LAA by the end of July. After negotiations with Government Office South West an agreed set of outcomes will go forward for the development of action plans for their delivery. By the end of November we will be expected to have developed detailed action plans of how we intend to deliver these outcomes and what, if any central government rules we want relaxed in order to be able to deliver more effectively. There will then be further negotiations and fine tuning to be completed in time for the LAA implementation to begin in April 07.
Communication
This newsletter will now be distributed on a monthly basis and will be used to highlight key developments in the LAA Project. LAA updates and documentation will also start to appear on the WiSB area of the County Council website over the next month. Finally if you have a group that would appreciate a presentation on the LAA then please contact us and we will try to arrange it.
David Bareham – Wiltshire LAA Project Manager and newsletter author:
David Maynard – Wiltshire LAA Policy Development Manager:
Steering Group Composition:
Dr Keith Robinson, Chief Executive, Wiltshire County Council
Andrew Pate, Chief Executive, West Wiltshire County Council
Richard Sheard/David Neudegg, Executive/Policy Director, Salisbury District Counci
Ken Grimes - Director, Community First
Dr Gary Mantle - Director, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Peter Baxter - Asst Chief Fire Officer, Wilts and Swindon Fire Authority
Liddy Davidson - Director, Age Concern Wiltshire
Stephen Long - Deputy Chief Constable, Wiltshire Constabulary
Trevor Jones - Chief Executive Avon, Wiltshire & Gloucestershire Strategic Health Authority
Peter Marsh - Director, Learning and Skills Council, Swindon and Wiltshire
Huw Lloyd-Jones - Government Office South West
Contact Details
By Post
David Bareham, Wiltshire LAA Project Manager
or
David Maynard, Wiltshire LAA Policy Development Manager
Chief Executive's Office
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JF
By Email
By Telephone
Tel: 01225 713117 : David Bareham, Wiltshire LAA Project Manager
Tel: 01225 713118 : David Maynard, Wiltshire LAA Policy Development Manager
By Fax
01225 713092
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
