www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Wiltshire Local Area Agreement Newsletter - Issue 8
Introduction
In this Newsletter we will attempt to keep you up to date on the fast moving development of the new LAA. Much has happened during the last couple of months and there is a lot more activity planned for early next year.
This Newsletter also gives a brief update of progress so far with the current LAA. Although the LAA is changing dramatically, the delivery of the current LAA remains very important. The current LAA contains activities and targets which this time last year were important to Wiltshire; it is likely that these things are still important to Wiltshire and so partners must continue to work together to achieve their aims. Furthermore, a ‘good performance’ this time around sets us in good stead for the next phase of performance management around the new LAA and builds our credibility with the Government Office South West (GOSW).
The current LAA – progress so far
The current LAA is continuing to progress well overall. It has now become apparent that for some targets and indicators success will not be achieved for a variety of reasons. This will be reported to GOSW and a way forward will be agreed with them and the Block Leads working with partners to deliver the outcome. More details about the first two quarters performance will soon be available on http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/wiltshire-strategic-board/local-area-agreement.htm
The New LAA – update on development
The new performance regime – some background
The government is introducing a new performance regime from 2008/09 for local government and the work it does with its partners. This includes changes to nationally defined performance indicators and Local Area Agreements, and more local flexibility in the use of grants. The effect is to make LAAs central to the work of local government. In 2009 the government will replace the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) with the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), which will focus on the achievement of the LAA and particularly the risks to its success.
The government’s new National Indicator Set (NIS) for local government working alone and in partnership will replace approximately 1,200 national indicators for local government, including Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) and Department of Health PAF indicators. The NIS contains 198 indicators representing what is most important to central government, as developed from national Public Service Agreements (PSAs) and Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSOs).
The government will use the NIS to help deliver its national priorities, and will use the Local Area Agreement to reach agreement with councils and local partners on up to 35 national indicators – agreeing targets for us to deliver locally. The LAA replaces all other mechanisms of target setting with councils. The new LAA will include:
16 education and early years’ indicators with statutory targets, from the NIS.
Targets for up to 35 other NIS indicators, which will be negotiated with Government Office South West (GOSW). These should be important to Wiltshire and the government.
The LAA may also include locally agreed targets. The government will not monitor them, but in other respects the LAA and CAA regime will apply; and the new duty on named statutory partners to deliver local targets is the same as for the ‘up to 35’ targets.
Not all important targets agreed between local partners need be in the LAA, and it is important that those chosen are appropriate. It is likely that some element of performance reward grant will attach to the ‘35 targets’. ‘Named’ statutory partners will be shown for each of the 35 targets, and it is likely that these partners will be held accountable for performance by government departments. Everything in the LAA is subject to the CAA inspection.
The government’s objective is that the LAA targets, together with the statutory education and early year’s targets, will enable central government departments to deliver on national priorities in a way which ensures these meet the particular needs and concerns of local people.
From 2008/09 we expect to publish results annually for all indicators in the NIS. These will be used by government departments and inspectorates to help assess public sector performance, the effectiveness of partnership working, and ‘what it is like to live’ in Wiltshire.
The new LAA will replace the current LAA, which now ends on 31st March 2008.
In summary, the new LAA is not optional. It is intended to be fundamental to Government’s relationship with local government. The LAA and the 198 National Indicators from which it will be drawn will form the basis of the new arrangements for inspection and assessment by the Audit Commission and other Inspectorates.
How is Wiltshire’s LAA being developed?
1. LAA negotiations are expected to conclude in June 2008, and the LAA backdated to run for 3 years from April 2008. The Wiltshire Strategic Board (WiSB) has approved the process outlined below to develop the LAA proposals and negotiate targets with Government Office South West (GOSW). It is important to remember that:
- The County Council is the accountable lead body for the LAA and as such has a key role in its development and delivery. Councillors are encouraged to become involved in the LAA.
- WiSB and its executive (WiSBEx) (or successor partnerships) will be very important in guiding the development.
- It is vital that bodies with responsibilities under the NIS and LAA and who take on responsibility for significant action are involved in the LAA.
2. The LAA is being approached in several stages.
- Identifying key issues and priorities for Wiltshire, through the Community Strategy, evidence of public opinion, existing plans, the first LAA, and the Annual Conference of the Wiltshire Strategic Board (WiSB)
- Definition by WiSB of seven broad themes which could form the basis of shared ambitions for the County (see below)
- Preparation by relevant partnerships of those ambitions shared priorities within and across the seven themes. Members of WiSB have made particular emphasis upon identifying priorities for action which would make a real visible difference to people and communities in the County
- Negotiation with government of medium term (three-year) targets, drawn from the National Indicator Set to measure progress against priorities; and
- Action plans to achieve the targets.
3. The seven broad themes which WiSB has identified, and the organisations or partnerships which have been requested to work these up, are as follows:
Broad area of ambition | Request to organisations for views on priorities during December |
Stronger, resilient communities | The Social Inclusion Partnership Stronger LAA block The Community Area Partnerships |
Affordable housing | Andrew Pate to liaise with all District Council Housing Officers to agree approach |
Health & social care for all | Primary Care Trust County Council Health & Wellbeing Partnership |
Economy, skills and employment | Economic Partnership |
Safer communities | Safer Wiltshire Executive |
Environment | Wiltshire and Swindon Renewable Energy Forum Wiltshire Biodiversity Partnership Wiltshire Waste Partnership |
Working together | WiSBEx |
4. WiSB is keen that the connections between the ambitions are made at an early stage, and that proposals presented are developed across all 7 areas of ambition; not developed separately for each ambition. There will be a workshop in January for representatives from each of the bodies to develop the proposals. The proposals will be considered by WiSB in February.
5. In February progress will be reported to WiSB. April and May will be used to resolve any outstanding issues and agree the LAA between the County Council and local partners and GOSW, in anticipation of the LAA being signed by Ministers in June.
6. If you wish to get involved with the negotiation process please contact the Performance and Risk Team, as below, for further details.
Useful contacts:
The Performance and Risk Team
Sharon Britton – Assistant Director, Performance and Risk, Wiltshire County Council
sharonbritton@wiltshire.gov.uk
Direct Line: 01255 713170
Annie Child – Performance Manager, Wiltshire County Council and newsletter author
anniechild@wiltshire.gov.uk
Direct Line: 01722 432317
Karen Spence – Performance Manager, Wiltshire County Council
karenspence@wiltshire.gov.uk
Direct Line: 01225 713094
If you have any suggestions for articles for inclusion in this Newsletter, please contact Annie Child as above, thank you.
