News 2008 |
Swindon has contributed to a new publication on delivering Local Area Agreements by the progressive and influential think tank New Local Government Network. The research highlights significant achievements in translating key local priorities within local Community Strategies to align with government national indicators to create true partnership working within adopted LAAs.
The New Local Government Network calls for councils to be handed greater responsibility and more incentives to drive forward Local Area Agreements and argues that the current system is still too inflexible for many local authorities. See Latest News on this website for the report.
The Swindon Model outlines the approach used in Swindon to arrive at the priorities and their respective indicators to be included in the second round Local Area Agreement (LAA). The Model ensured an open and transparent process for managing stakeholder expectations whilst selecting the most relevant measures to be delivered through the agreement. The Government Office of the South West (GOSW) have described the approach as an 'exemplar' and 'strongly open and transparent'. More details on the application of the Swindon Model can be obtained from James Griffin, Head of Policy, at Swindon Borough Council at james.griffin@swindon.gov.uk
A new grants prgramme utilising the skills and experience of Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises to assist the Council and partners in meeting targets set out in the Local Area Agreement is launched in October 2008.