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LAAs - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |
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Welcome to our Local Area Agreement (LAA) frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers page. We will continue to update this section over the coming months in order to provide answers to the most frequently asked questions about the LAA process. We hope you find this information helpful and informative. The page is split in to 3 sections:
However, if you do not find the answer to your question below, then please send us your question and comments and we will endeavour to respond to them by email. To send a question, go to our contact us page. Please use the word LAA in the subject enquiry box. LAA PROCESS Another government idea. How long will it last? It started 2 years ago and will probably continue to evolve over coming years. All indications so far show that it is here to stay - unless there is a change in Government. Is the commencement date realistic? (April 2007) There is no choice about this; the national government has set this date. Other local authority areas that were in earlier rounds of Local Area Agreements have developed their agreements in much shorter timescales. However even with 9 months to work on it, it is expected that some of the first year of the 3 year agreement will be spent finalising processes and so on, before the bulk of delivery commences. LAA seems too bureaucratic, how can this danger be avoided? Much of it can’t be, however we can try to break down barriers. It is a complex piece of work which ultimately, is about changing the way we all work in the future and to make things simpler in the long term. How many people are involved on committees? There are currently 7 members of the Performance Management Group (which will be the LAA Steering Group) and 10 members of the Project Team - though this is a working group and not a decision-making team. Block Teams are being established. Who is going to set, monitor and evaluate targets? The Dudley Community Partnership has overall responsibility for this and will be undertaken directly by the Performance Management Group. How will Block Leads be accountable regarding decisions made? Block Leads will report to the Dudley Community Partnership Performance Management Group. Who will decide how funding is split up? The Block Teams will make recommendations which will be signed off by partner agencies and the Dudley Community Partnership. How do DCP ensure fair distribution of funds? The Local Area Agreement doesn’t start from the point of view of distributing funds, and it isn’t about distributing funds (it’s not a funding pot). It starts with a look at what they need to do in the Borough to improve people’s lives. It also looks at what the Government requires statutory agencies to do. Having looked at these things it is then agreed how money should be used to achieve the best outcomes. Is LAA going to make a difference? Is money going to local issues? Funding will be steered towards the priorities outlined in the Dudley Borough Challenge. Local residents have helped to agree these priorities. They can raise other local issues during the process and make sure that systems are in place to demonstrate the difference being made in relation to issues which affect local people and local areas. Will there be cross-working with Sandwell? The agreement will focus on work which is happening in Dudley Borough to improve the quality of life for people in the Borough. The funding follows the priorities and outcomes so will be spent on activities for people in the Borough. Sandwell Council will be developing their own LAA, though there will be dialogue between Sandwell and Dudley in developing their LAAs. CONTENT From which period of time are the baselines to be sourced for inclusion in the LAA? Ideally the baselines would be 2006-07, but in many cases this is unrealistic. Some will be the most recent baselines available, and for some outcomes, there will need to be an action to identify a baseline during the first year of LAA. Is the stretch target element, Local Public Service Agreement 2 (LPSA2) over 2 years or the 3 years of the LAA? It is over 3 years, to follow the same timing as the LAA, however in some circumstances, it may be possible to have a longer period of time in which to acheive a stretch target, such as 5 years. Click on here to go to the further information page which includes guidance and a useful presentation on LPSA2. Are there specific submission dates for the LAA drafts, other than the one stated in the guidance, for the first draft by 30th September? Awaiting response from Government Office for potential re-submission dates in December and January. What level of information is required for the draft Outcomes submission date to the LAA Project Team by 27th June? The Project Team needs to receive all mandatory and non-mandatory Outcomes agreed cross all the blocks, plus the justification for these and the indicators for the outcomes. Initial information as to potential targets, activities and funding would be useful to take the LAA on to the next stage from September 2006 - which is firming up the outcomes, indicators and targets and negotiating delivery (writing action plans) and funding. The Outcomes template can be found here. THE COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR Dosti, which is Dudley's Community Empowerment Network (CEN), have produced a simple leaflet on LAAs and are producing brieifing notes - these can be downloaded from the foot of this page. They are also running events - click here to find out more. With the tight deadline, will the community and voluntary sector be ready to deliver? (And blamed for it if not?) For people wishing to get involved it will be an intensive piece of work. There is no requirement on Community and Voluntary sector to deliver, so they won’t be blamed if they choose not to get involved. Will the LAA encourage community and voluntary sector to work together to deliver services? The LAA is very much focussed on partnership and it would be expected that all agencies and organisations involved will sign up to partnership working. Will Dudley Community Partnership (DCP) fund a post (seconded) for the project team from community and voluntary sector? The DCP has been approached for resources to support community and voluntary engagement in the Local Area Agreement development. How will information about Community and Voluntary Sector Service providers be gathered? Through networks embracing over 1000 groups and organisations, Dosti will be gathering information about community and voluntary sector providers, so they are in a better position to be considered for delivery for the LAA. Volunteers – how will they be heard? Dosti and other networks will provide numerous opportunities for people to contribute and share their ideas and concerns. Who is going to set, monitor and evaluate targets? The Dudley Community Partnership has overall responsibility for this and will be undertaken directly by the Performance Management Group. Through the community and voluntary sector representatives involved in the Community + Voluntary Sector can all influence this. Will it be harder for Community and Voluntary Sector groups to get funding? Only if funding that is currently given to them is used differently through the Local Area Agreement. The process may open opportunities for groups to access funding which wasn’t available to them before. There is no new money in the LAA, it is the same money Dudley would normally receive, but with fewer restrictions attached which will allow DCP to target to funding to meet Community and Voluntary Sector Service outcomes. How is everyone going to be kept informed? Dosti networks will circulate e-mails, briefings, newsletters etc. Various LAA meetings and events will be held by Dosti on a regular basis. Contact sheets and mailing lists will be added to, so information can be circulated as per their requests. What is community representation – is Dosti correct vehicle? Representation can be defined as ‘a means of overcoming the problem of decision making where large numbers prevent all being involved’. Most community representatives can ‘only claim to represent their own members and users, and only then on the specific issues with which the organisation is concerned’ (from The New Community Strategies – How to involve people, Community Development Foundation, 2000). Dosti is the vehicle through which community and voluntary sector representatives are elected to the Dudley Community Partnership Board. Within the community and voluntary sector in the Borough community representatives are invited to bring the views of their groups in a wide range of forums. Through these they can have a say on Local Area Agreements. The Dosti representatives will make sure that their messages are heard at the decision-making table.
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