Policy
8 March, 2006
Voluntary sector involvement in Local Area Agreements
New research from LVSC
Local Area Agreements (LAAs) are a key part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to modernise local government and reform the delivery of public services in England. LAAs potentially offer a new approach to the way local authorities and their partners, including the voluntary and community sector (VCS), can use Government funding to support the implementation of national, regional and local priorities in their areas.
Local Area Agreements were initially piloted in 2004/5 when two of the 32 London Boroughs took part (Greenwich and Hammersmith & Fulham). In 2005/6, a further 15 Boroughs were selected as 'round 2' boroughs. This report assesses their varying experience to date of engaging the voluntary and community sector in the design and development of these Agreements.
Six key recommendations are made, with the intention of improving the concept of LAAs in London under round 3, particularly ensuring that the unique role of VCS agencies can be harnessed:
- There is a clear correlation between the level of VCS involvement in LAAs and the quality and resourcing of voluntary sector infrastructure at a local level. Additional targeted resources are needed to build up the infrastructure in boroughs where it is weakest;
- LAAs need to ensure they do not exacerbate the division between larger VCS organisations and small community based organisations. Instead, LAAs should recognise and promote the value that the sector as a whole can bring to a LAA;
- As a matter of principle, even if additional resources for the VCS cannot be guaranteed, the introduction of a LAA should not result in a net loss of resources allocated to a borough’s VCS. In particular, resources should be made available to support a small grants programme as part of future LAA capacity-building initiatives;
- Specific guidance should be developed highlighting the need for the VCS to be involved at the strategic level, as well as in the design and delivery of each LAA block. To benchmark and monitor this a mapping exercise should be undertaken across the LAAs to capture how the VCS has been and will continue to be involved across each of the LAA Blocks;
- There needs to be specific support and capacity building to help voluntary and community organisations develop skills in setting appropriate performance indicators and managing performance measurement;
- The potential to develop a ‘Centre of Excellence’ model, which supports and benchmarks commissioning practices across LAAs, should be explored.
This important piece of research was commissioned by London Voluntary Services Council under the London Regional ChangeUp programme and carried out by Rocket Science UK Ltd.
For more information on the research, including a copy of the report, see the LVSC website VCS involvement in Round 2 LAAs
