Local Area Agreement (LAA)
A local area agreement (LAA) is a three-year agreement between a local area and central government, based on local needs. The LAA sets out how local priorities will be met by applying local solutions.
LAAs were first introduced in 2004 in 20 pilot areas, which was soon extended out across the country in three phases. Under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, a significant list of 'named partners' now have a duty to co-operate in the achievements of the LAA targets.
The Key aim of the Local Area Agreement is to improve the quality of life for people in Havering, whilst also strengthening Partnership working, Improving efficiency and coordination of service provision and improve central and local government dialogue.
Havering is in the final year of LAA1, and is in the second year of LAA2.
LAA1 consist of 12 Stretch targets, which will help to improve the Borough by:
- Improving services for Older people
- Promote respect
- Maximise opportunities to improve local prosperity through the Thames Gateway and other initiatives
- Achieve social cohesion
- Improve the quality of the borough's public spaces and the public realm
- Improve support for vulnerable people
LAA2 consists of 32 National Indicators to help improve the quality of life for everyone in Havering and to 'reduce the gap' that exists between some communities. To reduce this gap, the HSP have focused on
- Raising the qualifications and skills of local residents
- Improving the health of vulnerable communities
- Supporting residents to live independently
- Building a safer local environment
- Developing residentŐs sense of ownership of their local neighbourhoods, community and Havering the Place
For a full list of Havering's LAA's Please refer to the Sustainable Community Scrategy (SCS), or you can view the LAA1 and LAA2 targets here.
The LAA's are negotiated between the Havering strategic partnership (HSP) and the Government office for London (GOL).
LAAs were first introduced in 2004/05, starting with 20 pilot areas and extending across the country in three phases. Under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, a significant list of 'named partners' now have a statutory 'duty to cooperate' in the achievement of LAA targets. This applies to targets agreed locally as well as those designated by government. All upper-tier local authorities were then required to draw up a new LAA for the three-year period 2008/09 to 2010/11.
Each year, LAAs are reviewed and discussed between Government Offices and the LSP to ensure that they remain up to date and take account of changing circumstances.
The key aim of the LAA is to improve the quality of life for people in Havering, whilst also strengthening partnership working, promoting community leadership, improving efficiency and coordination of service provision and improve central and local government dialogue.
For a full list of Havering's LAA's please refer to the Sustainable Community Strategy.