LAA Feasibility Testing/ Dry Run
Background information
Earlier this year Cumbria was selected to take part in the feasibility testing or "Dry Run" for the new LAAs which will operate from April 08. The testing involved 17 local authorities and their partners, Government Offices and Central Government Departments in considering the following:
1) What sources of evidence are or will be available to inform what national priorities and improvement targets are included in each LAA negotiated for 2008/09. (This will include the core evidence that Partnerships, GOs and Departments will use in identifying and negotiating priorities and targets as well as what additional sources of evidence might be drawn on to provide contextual background to the LAA)
2) How best to use these sources of evidence to inform the decision on priorities
3) How the decision making process might work, including:
a. how each local authority and its partners will identify and agree their national and local improvement priorities
b. how central government will identify its improvement priorities
c. how central government, GOs, local authorities and partners can work together to identify and agree priorities for each area
d. how to reach final agreement on the improvement targets to be included in the LAA
Follow the links below for more information
What we did
In Cumbria the testing specifically focused on three issues:
1) The process of prioritization
2) Exchange and warehousing of performance information and intelligence (data interchange pilot)
3) Funding Issues
Cumbria worked closely with Oldham throughout the testing; particularly on issues relating to funding and the LAA. Common issues that Oldham and Cumbria raised with the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) are noted in the North West Perspective Note.
The work to support the testing is helping Cumbria develop both its new LAA and a new Community Strategy for the county. A small development group was set up to provide direction and advice on the testing.
The group comprised:
Helen Blake, Cumbria County Council
Mark Pannone, Cumbria Constabulary
Michael Heaslip, West Cumbria Partnership
Cathy Wynne, Cumbria PCT
Dan Bloomer, Cumbria County Council
Duncan McQueen, Cumbria County Council
Chris Dove, Cumbria County Council
Follow the links below to find out more about Cumbria's work during the testing
What did we learn
Cumbria reported the findings of the testing to GONW and CLG in July 2007. The key learning points related to the process of prioritisation and how to tackle this in developing the refreshed LAA. More information can be found in the final report and a summary of learning is provided in the presentation made to GONW and regional authorities in September
If you would like any further information please contact Helen Blake on 01228 606687 helen.blake@cumbriacc.gov.uk
Information Management Programme
During the LAA Feasibility Testing Cumbria worked with with CLG on an Information Management Programme. This work will continue into 2008.
The project aims to resolve a number of challenges around information management and analysis resulting in:
- Streamlined central reporting systems:
- Reduced central reporting burdens
- Reduced duplication in the supply of data to central government
- Improved reporting to residents
- Better use of local information
- More relevant presentation and analysis of information about the area
- Improved data sharing between partners
- Clearer guidance on legal aspects related to data sharing
- Development of voluntary performance indicators
- A central resource of maintained contextual indicators
- Improved data quality
- Enhanced IT enablement
The new performance management framework, as set out in the Local Government White Paper, reduces the number of indicators that Local Authorities will need to report on annually to 200. The Data Interchanges project will concentrate on collating these indicators in the first instance. The performance of each Local Authority will be monitored annually against a sub-set of 35 targets, chosen from the list of 200 and agreed as part of the Local Area Agreement, together with 18 mandatory related targets from the Department for Educational Skills.