Policy
26 April, 2006
Local area agreement toolkit
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister publication
Voluntary sector advice agencies looking to become involved in the development of their local area agreement (LAA) should be aware of a new on-line toolkit. Developed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the toolkit picks up on lessons learned from the first two rounds of LAAs. It uses case studies of good practise as well as emerging issues from evaluation of these rounds and further sources of advice.
There is a strong emphasis on the need for effective voluntary and community sector (VCS) involvement in the development of LAAs. For example, the toolkit notes that engagement with the VCS can benefit public service delivery as well as wider society by:
- the involvement of the sector in public service delivery, design, commissioning and evaluation;
- the ways in which the VCS delivers public services, for example, by increasing community participation;
- the way that the sector puts people at the heart of what it does, engaging the local community.
Noting the existing links with specific community interest groups, the toolkit states that a key lesson from the pilots is that VCS organisations should be involved from the outset in developing LAA outcomes. LAAs should promote improved understanding, better organisational coordination and sharing of best practice.
For more information about the toolkit, see the Improvement and Development Agency's website Local area agreement toolkit
For a background to LAAs, see also the rightsnet policy news story Local authorities sign off Round Two Local Area Agreements, 5 April, 2006
