Local Area Agreements, Empowerment and Young People 24 June 2008 Jane Todorovic Head of Local Performance: Strategy, CLG

2 Local Area Agreements and Empowerment White Paper Two key pieces of Government policy – developed by CLG but owned across Whitehall Both of relevance to young people Both real opportunities for delivering change in the way that services operate and in delivering positive outcomes

3 Local Area Agreements: The prize at stake Responsive public services – responding to citizens and communities Focus effort and resources on priorities that matter most Tackling the difficult issues that can only be solved through effective partnership working Leading to better outcomes, faster. Delivering national and local aspirations through effective local action

4 Context – new performance framework Better outcomes for citizens and communities. Single focused set of national priorities – 198 national indicators. Shared priorities for action in places - through new LAAs up to 35 + local targets; duty to co-operate and have regard to targets Effective co-ordination of sub-regional outcomes through MAAs New, integrated, proportionate assessment regime - CAA Capacity and capability to deliver - national improvement and efficiency strategy, regional partnerships Coherent legislative framework in LGPIH Act - statutory LAAs, duty to involve, duty to co-operate, Best value and commissioning Financial incentives – the new area based grant breaks link between targets & funding; through £5bn reduction in ring fencing, and announcement of third round of reward grant

5 Local priorities and targets ~35 targets LAA Local accountability to citizens Local consultation through the LSP with Partners and Stakeholders Better outcomes for citizens CSR07 national priority outcomes & 198 national indicators LSP view of local priorities Local targets monitored by LSP 'Designated’ targets monitored by LSP and GO New LAAs Local Challenges and Ambitions Sustainable Community Strategy Negotiation and agreement Cross-Govt view through GOs on priorities 16 statutory education and early years targets

6 Partners named in Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 Museums, Libraries and Archives Council National Park Authorities Natural England NHS Foundation Trusts NHS Health Trusts Police authorities Primary Care Trusts Probation Trusts and other providers of probation services Regional Development Agencies Sport England Transport for London Youth Offending Teams Any other organisations added by an order under section 104(7) of the Act Arts Council The Broads Authority Chief Officer of Police District authorities English Heritage The Environment Agency Fire and rescue authorities Health and Safety Executive The Highways Agency Jobcentre Plus Joint Waste Authorities Joint Waste Disposal Authorities The Learning and Skills Council in England Local Probation Boards Metropolitan Passenger Transport Authorities

7 New LAAs – key features need to balance improving public services & creating prosperity designing the new system together Government needs to agree its priorities for places 99% overlap between national and local priorities range of tools for resolving differences – key GO role opportunity to tackle cross- cutting issues story of place & evidence base Members’ leadership role balance long term ambitions & current performance issues Government needs to support whole LAA

8 On track for local and central approval of all LAAs by end June. Final draft LAAs now submitted in all areas Average number of targets – 31 (from 7 to 35) Over 99% agreement between local and central priorities. New LAAs – where are we now?

What does this mean for young people? Many indicators of relevance to young people around:  Being healthy; staying safe; enjoying and achieving; making a positive contribution; and economic well-being Some of these are among the top priorities, which are:  16-18s not in education, employment or training (NEET)  Under 18 conceptions  Reduction in CO 2 emissions  Net additional homes; affordable homes  Obesity among primary school children in Year 6  Serious acquisitive crime Others are very popular including young people’s participation in positive activities and reducing first time entrants to Youth Justice System.

10 What next – planning and managing delivery LAs and partners responsible for performance managing local delivery delivery of national priorities will be monitored using data on all 198 indicators, with particular focus on delivery against the up-to-35 from 2009, Comprehensive Area Assessment will provide judgement of delivery and risks – drawing on local self- assessments and reviews. Detailed consultation in the summer. first annual review will be in late Autumn 2008 – transitional and forward looking - focus on robustness of delivery arrangements & baselining performance, setting targets where not available at sign- off, finalising reward Leading to refresh of LAA by end March 2009

11 National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy focuses investment on: enablers of innovation and improvement support to meet the ambition of new LAAs business process improvements and efficiency strengthening sector-led support Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships – focus on: partnership working, effective strategic commissioning, strong political leadership priorities identified through LAA and MAAs LGA framework for support and intervention Government powers to intervene in the best interests of local people where under-performance is significant What next - building capacity and capability

12 LAAs in the future Delivering better outcomes, faster, at the right level Meeting both local and national priorities – as part of a system wide approach. Clear connection and accountability to the public Making partnership working real – seamless delivery linked to a clear story of how change happens in a place Transformational – a catalyst for real innovation in service delivery and institutional behaviours (locally and in Whitehall) BUT not just about the institutions……

Key recognition: young people need to be engaged Young people make up a significant proportion of the population but feel disengaged from formal political processes and civic society In 2006 there were approximately 15.7 million young people in England under the age of 24. In some deprived areas, young people make up around 40% of the population. Only 37% of year olds voted in the 2005 general election. Average age of councillors 58. People in the youngest age group (aged 16 – 24) and the two oldest groups (65 – 74 and 75+) feel the least able to influence local decisions (34%, 33% and 35%) (Citizenship Survey, 2007, Q1-Q2). Younger people are less likely to feel like they belong to their neighbourhood – 66% (16- 24) and 63% (25-34) - average is 75% They are often seen negatively by other groups… 73% of those involved in the recent Making Space Youth Review believe that adults distrust teenagers as “a result of the actions of the isolated few.” (July 2007) Adults think much more crime is committed by young people than is actually the case (50% vs. 20%). (IPSOS MORI / Channel 4, Attitudes Towards Teenagers And Crime, 24 April 2006).

What does CLG want to achieve? Encouraging active citizenship, reviving civic society and local democracy Young people feeling more confident in having a say and playing a role in their communities and society as a whole. Widespread use of innovative ways to consult and involve young people – recognising that a key way to inspire them is giving real influence. (Make Space Youth Review 2007) Services that are relevant to young people, suitable and of high quality.

Options to involve young people locally Youth Bank Young Mayors UK Youth Parliament Youth Forums Participation Forums Young Advisors Internships Junior Wardens

Empowerment White Paper One of the key aims of the Empowerment White Paper is to increase youth participation in civic life and enable young people to have their say and influence local decision making. Process: Hazel Blears launched preparation process at beginning of March Policy development across CLG and other Government Departments Stakeholder engagement including:  on-line discussion forum on the Communities website  events being held in the regions including youth organisations plus seminar with young people  consultation pack  expert panels  policy wiki on active citizenship Aiming for publication this summer

Conclusion Two key pieces of Government policy, led by Communities and Local Government but owned across Whitehall, which will impact on young people Important context for other Government activity focused on young people – but ones that should lead to real change in:  How services are delivered and designed  How young people are engaged  Positive outcomes for young people