A Local Area Agreement (LAA) is a three year contract between central and local government setting out the priorities for a local area and how these will be tackled in partnership. The LAA also provides a way of strengthening partnerships and partnership working, pooling budgets and streamlining performance management systems.
LAAs were first introduced in 2004/05, starting with 20 pilot areas and extending across the country in three phases. All upper-tier local authorities were required to draw up a new LAA for the three-year period 2008/09 to 2010/11.
Within each area, LAAs are overseen by LSPs. For East Sussex, the County Council is the 'upper tier' and the East Sussex Strategic Partnership is responsible for overseeing the LAA.
East Sussex are still working on some of the targets from our first LAA (2006-2009) as well as delivering the new LAA (2008-2011). The new LAA reflects the priorities set out in the county-wide Sustainable Community Strategy. Both LAAs were negotiated by East Sussex County Council and East Sussex Strategic Partnership, making sure that partners were involved as much as possible.
The LAA was refreshed in March 2009 with a review of some of the targets for delivery.