Improving Delivery Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee 10 November 2005 Cllr Keith R Mitchell FCA FCCA Leader of Oxfordshire County Council Chairman of South East England Regional Assembly Chairman of South East County Leaders

Background to Local Area Agreements (LAA) Recognition that delivering national targets requires effective local delivery But how to improve local delivery with –Multiple agencies all with their own objectives –Countless funding streams and monitoring processes? Answer – “a partnership with teeth”

LAA The LAA is a 3 year agreement between Central and Local Government Agreed with central government, represented by the Government Office Pump priming grant (£1.3m) to help stretch performance Reward grant up to (£16m) paid on delivery of results

LAA: Why is it important? Opportunity to deliver more effective local action Stronger partnership working Better use of resources Less Central Government Direction ? Reduced bureaucracy ? More resources for Oxfordshire ?

It is a Huge Task! Develop and agree within 6 months a plan for: –Children and Young People –Safer & Stronger Communities –Healthier Communities & Older People –Economy & Enterprise And a late arrival - Environment

The Challenges: Delivery requires: –Strong common interest in the agenda –Shared understanding of key information –Mutual understanding and expectations –Disciplines of programme and project management –Ability to command resources and action –Accountability and challenge

Governance Arrangements – OCP Changes OCP Strategy Group Membership increased –Learning & Skills Council, –Primary Care Trusts, –Strategic Health Authority, –Oxfordshire Rural Community Council –Connexions & Oxford Inspires Chairman – Professor Graham Upton OCP signs off the LAA

National Context: Public Service Boards Ensuring LSPs meet their potential + LSPs with teeth A vision for joined up public service delivery and governance at the local level –Defining the local agenda and targets –Bringing together local decision makers –Overseeing public expenditure in the area –Exercising a leadership and governance role –Agent for Transformational Change

Oxfordshire Public Service Board Chairman: Cllr Keith R Mitchell Membership: Key Public Service decision makers including: –District Council Leaders –Thames Valley Police Authority –Learning & Skills Council –SEEDA –GOSE –OCP Chairman Role: Manages the delivery of the LAA

5 Project Groups: Children & Young People Safer & Stronger Communities Healthier Communities & Older People Economy & Enterprise Environment –The LAA will form the action plan for the next Community Strategy and will be structured around these 5 themes.

Children & Young People 5 outcomes addressed in ‘Every Child Matters’: Achievement Healthy and active lifestyles Positive contribution Stay Safe Economic Well-being

Safer & Stronger Communities Crime Reduction Substance Abuse Anti-Social Behaviour Domestic Violence Strengthen voluntary/community sector infrastructure Volunteering Better consultation Access to services

Healthier Communities & Older People Promoting healthy & active lifestyles Tackling obesity Smoking cessation Sexual health Independence & quality of life for older and vulnerable people

Economy & Enterprise Sustainable Communities Helping employers to recruit and retain key staff Strengthening key sectors Promoting Oxfordshire and its brand

Environment Cleaner and Greener Oxfordshire Improve the street scene and enhance the environment Rationalise waste management to reduce the environmental and economic impact

Three Emerging Priorities Affordable housing Crime reduction/street scene Economic development

LAA Governance Arrangements OCP FORUM (150 self selected individuals) OCP Strategy Group LOCAL AREA AGREEMENT Public Service Board OCP Ambition Groups CDC LSP WOX LSP VWH LSP SOX LSP OX CITY LSP

Timetable: Outline LAA to GOSE – 28 th Sept Complete negotiations with GOSE – End Dec GOSE negotiations with Gov Depts – Jan/Feb Sign off LAA – Feb 24 th Deliver LAA – April 1 st Roll forward of 3 year plan – Winter 06/07

OCP Ambition Groups

Recognition of the hard work done by the ambition groups – actions being met Ambition groups are in the process of being reviewed Some are becoming delivery mechanisms for the LAA Other ambition groups e.g. OEG/TAG are moving to more of a strategic think-tank role

LAA Opportunities vs. Risks Key decision makers around one table Strengthen the Community Strategy – delivering the vision Improving County/District partnership working relationships Role of OCP Strategy Group Builds on the partnerships and strategies already developed

LAA Opportunities vs. Risks Risk that this is another layer of complexity rather than a simplification Risk of setting unrealistic targets

Questions: