Local Area Agreements (LAAs) are three year agreements that set out the priorities for a local area agreed between Central Government - represented by the Government Office - and a local area - represented by local authorities, Local Strategic Partnerships and other key partners at local level. The primary objective of an LAA is to deliver better outcomes for local people.
The LAA brings together the myriad of initiatives, strategies and related funding that is currently spread across Peterborough and offers the opportunity to prioritise the most pressing needs of our city through joint working. It provides the first opportunity to collectively influence and direct the range of support initiatives offered by central government through one single agreement.
The development of a fourth block of our LAA - substantial and sustainable growth -offers the opportunity to complete the alignment between the Community Strategy, emerging Regional Spatial Strategy and the Local Area Agreement and to realise our strong desire to see the LAA as the short-term delivery plan for the Community Strategy.
The Community Strategy (launched December 2004) is the plan for the future of Peterborough and the surrounding villages and rural areas. It reflects both the agenda for growth and the clear desire to ensure that Peterborough grows the right way, so that economic and population growth leads to genuine improvements in key areas, particularly those where Peterborough currently has specific problems or issues. It recognises that if we are to create a bigger and better Peterborough, then we will have to deal quickly and effectively with the pressing issues of today as well as the plans for tomorrow.
Substantial and sustainable growth - block 4 LAA agreement for 2007/08
In developing block 4 Substantial and Sustainable Growth we have continued to be guided by the principles of the Community Strategy and in particular the three breakthrough goals it set out in this area:
- To be the fastest growing city in the region, both in terms of jobs and population
- To ensure that no area of Peterborough is amongst the most deprived in the country
- To establish Peterborough as the environment capital of England
The outcomes we have set out in block 4 both include the guidance issued by central government and reflect the Peterborough specific outcomes that we set out in the Community Strategy.
We continue to seek to build a Peterborough that has:
- More prosperous people
- A better business environment
- Better places to live
- Better places to visit and enjoy
- A culture of lifelong learning
To read the block 4 reports visit our library - here. Or visit the Greater Peterborough Partnership website - here.