Improving Delivery Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee
10 November 2005
Cllr Keith R Mitchell FCA FCCALeader of Oxfordshire County Council
Chairman of South East England Regional AssemblyChairman of South East County Leaders
Background to Local Area Agreements (LAA)
• Recognition that delivering national targets requires effective local delivery
• But how to improve local delivery with– Multiple agencies all with their own
objectives – Countless funding streams and
monitoring processes?
• Answer – “a partnership with teeth”
LAA
• The LAA is a 3 year agreement between Central and Local Government
• Agreed with central government, represented by the Government Office
• Pump priming grant (£1.3m) to help stretch performance
• Reward grant up to (£16m) paid on delivery of results
LAA: Why is it important?
• Opportunity to deliver more effective local action
• Stronger partnership working• Better use of resources • Less Central Government Direction?• Reduced bureaucracy?• More resources for Oxfordshire?
It is a Huge Task!
• Develop and agree within 6 months a plan for:
– Children and Young People– Safer & Stronger Communities – Healthier Communities & Older
People– Economy & Enterprise
And a late arrival - Environment
The Challenges:
• Delivery requires:– Strong common interest in the agenda– Shared understanding of key information– Mutual understanding and expectations– Disciplines of programme and project
management – Ability to command resources and action– Accountability and challenge
Governance Arrangements – OCP
Changes• OCP Strategy Group Membership
increased – Learning & Skills Council, – Primary Care Trusts, – Strategic Health Authority, – Oxfordshire Rural Community Council– Connexions & Oxford Inspires
• Chairman – Professor Graham Upton• OCP signs off the LAA
National Context: Public Service Boards
• Ensuring LSPs meet their potential + LSPs with teeth
• A vision for joined up public service delivery and governance at the local level– Defining the local agenda and targets– Bringing together local decision makers– Overseeing public expenditure in the area– Exercising a leadership and governance role– Agent for Transformational Change
Oxfordshire Public Service Board
• Chairman: Cllr Keith R Mitchell • Membership: Key Public Service
decision makers including:– District Council Leaders– Thames Valley Police Authority– Learning & Skills Council– SEEDA– GOSE– OCP Chairman
• Role: Manages the delivery of the LAA
5 Project Groups:
• Children & Young People• Safer & Stronger Communities • Healthier Communities & Older People • Economy & Enterprise • Environment
– The LAA will form the action plan for the next Community Strategy and will be structured around these 5 themes.
Children & Young People
5 outcomes addressed in ‘Every Child Matters’:
• Achievement • Healthy and active lifestyles• Positive contribution• Stay Safe• Economic Well-being
Safer & Stronger Communities
• Crime Reduction• Substance Abuse • Anti-Social Behaviour • Domestic Violence• Strengthen voluntary/community sector
infrastructure • Volunteering• Better consultation• Access to services
Healthier Communities & Older People
• Promoting healthy & active lifestyles
• Tackling obesity• Smoking cessation• Sexual health• Independence & quality of life for
older and vulnerable people
Economy & Enterprise
• Sustainable Communities • Helping employers to recruit and
retain key staff • Strengthening key sectors• Promoting Oxfordshire and its
brand
Environment
• Cleaner and Greener Oxfordshire• Improve the street scene and
enhance the environment • Rationalise waste management to
reduce the environmental and economic impact
Three Emerging Priorities
• Affordable housing• Crime reduction/street scene• Economic development
LAA Governance Arrangements
OCP FORUM(150 self selected individuals)
OCP Strategy Group
LOCAL AREA AGREEMENT
Public Service Board
OCP Ambition Groups
OCP Ambition Groups
CDC LSP
CDC LSP
WOX LSPWOX LSP VWH LSPVWH LSP SOX LSPSOX LSP OX CITY LSP
OX CITY LSP
Timetable:
• Outline LAA to GOSE – 28th Sept
• Complete negotiations with GOSE – End Dec
• GOSE negotiations with Gov Depts – Jan/Feb
• Sign off LAA – Feb 24th • Deliver LAA – April 1st • Roll forward of 3 year
plan – Winter 06/07
OCP Ambition Groups
OCP Ambition Groups
• Recognition of the hard work done by the ambition groups – actions being met
• Ambition groups are in the process of being reviewed
• Some are becoming delivery mechanisms for the LAA
• Other ambition groups e.g. OEG/TAG are moving to more of a strategic think-tank role
LAAOpportunities vs. Risks
• Key decision makers around one table
• Strengthen the Community Strategy – delivering the vision
• Improving County/District partnership working relationships
• Role of OCP Strategy Group• Builds on the partnerships and
strategies already developed
LAAOpportunities vs. Risks
• Risk that this is another layer of complexity rather than a simplification
• Risk of setting unrealistic targets
Questions:
Top Related