Local area agreements (LAAs) in England
LAAs set out, for a three-year period, the priorities for a local area, agreed between central government (through the regional government office), a local area (the local authority and local strategic partnership), and other key partners at the local level. The agreement is intended to deliver a better quality of life for people in the area through improving performance on a range of national and local priorities.
Click for information on old local area agreements that cover the period up to April 2008.
From April 2008, the use and implication of LAAs will change significantly, due to the publication of the Government White Paper Strong and Prosperous Communities [opens in new window], and the subsequent passing of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 [opens in new window].
Click to find out more about new LAAs from April 2008 onwards.
Wales
LAAs are applicable to England only, but there are similar developments taking place in in Wales. In response to the report by Sir Jeremy Beecham, Beyond Boundaries [opens in new window], the Welsh Assembly Government's Making the Connections team is supporting the development of Local Service Boards (LSBs) in each local authority in Wales. LSBs, will develop Local Service Agreements that concentrate on a small number of priority themes and outline the measures that local partnerships will take to ensure that service delivery performance improves.
The new local government performance arrangements have required the YJB to revise the way it monitors the performance of the entire youth justice system. In Wales, the nature of this revision will also be influenced by a review of the delivery of the All Wales Youth Offending Strategy. Click to read more about the implications of this for YOTs in Wales.