Freedoms and Flexibilities. A central component of delivering on this Single Outcome Agreement is to have constructive dialogue about issues that are constraining delivery of the strategic outcomes. Highlighted below are particular freedoms and flexibilities which will be discussed with the Scottish Government: Example: • Remove, as a matter of priority, the requirement to report on the statutory performance indicators. • Implement, in full, the findings of the Crerar review. • Move towards a singular strategic model which regulates the work of local government/public sector organisations. • Design the new model on the basis of outcomes/impact assessment. • Funding made available to support English as a Second Language provision for European economic migrants. • Standardisation of all NHS A&E facilities to monitor admissions related to alcohol (their own drunkenness and because of others). • Standardisation of Police recording of alcohol as a contributing factor. • Scottish Government to fund research to identify issues, and particularly to cross reference when and where incidents are taking place. • Increase the cost of alcohol. • Guidance on community empowerment with local autonomy to reflect local context. • Continued funding and guidance to support implementation of ‘A Curriculum for Excellence’ and other associated national initiatives. • National and local figures on energy consumption.
Freedoms and Flexibilities. To facilitate the delivery of these outcomes the Government agrees that it will: Action Timescale Direct implementation responsibility Other interested partners To mitigate the impact of the current Economic Recession and act to support an early Upturn Provide for the MAA to be refreshed as necessary to reflect the development of the Economic Recession and Upturn. Begin review in April 2010 CLG/WEP OGDs SWERDA GOSW JCP Plan and manage the growth in homes and jobs to build mixed and sustainable communities CLG endorse the approach to the preparation of the Integrated Delivery & Investment Plan by the West of England authorities, HCA & RDA, with a joint agreed completion date of December 2009, particularly its: Immediate CLG HCA SWERDA GOSW • Support for the delivery of well-evidenced, timely and deliverable Core Strategies. The timetable for their preparation is set out in the MAA. Oct. 2009 – Aug. 2010 across four authorities WEP/GOSW CLG HCA SWERDA • Contribution to implementing economic, social and environmental infrastructure to maximise the delivery of growth and the development of mixed and sustainable communities. N/A WEP HCA HA DfT • Contribution to working with the development industry both to assist the market recovery and to provide confidence to investors in the Sub-Region. Sept. 2009 – first single conversation with developers WEP HCA SWERDA • Provision of a well-evidenced Plan for the sequencing and phasing of development in the sub-region which benefits from the Single Conversation, including engagement of the development industry. Dec. 2009 WEP HCA SWERDA CLG also endorse the adoption of a Joint Sub-Regional Development Trajectory TBA CLG HCA in the Plan based on 5-year tranches which demonstrates a rolling, deliverable supply of housing as set out in PPS3. The sequencing and phasing will assist best use of infrastructure, the delivery of mixed & sustainable communities and market recovery; this will provide confidence to developers and discourage inappropriate development. SWERDA The authorities will embody the Integrated Delivery & Investment Plan in a Joint Supplementary Planning Document to the Regional Spatial Strategy, to include it within the planning framework as a material consideration in making planning decisions. TBA CLG HCA SWERDA GOSW CLG confirm that targets NI 154 and NI 155 will be re-negotiated to reflect the evidence of the impact of the Economic Recession. Dec. 2009 (?) GOSW CLG CLG/HCA acknowledge that the West of Englan...
Freedoms and Flexibilities. 5.9.1 As this is not officially the LAA this has not been a focus of the SSCF and the current guidance is unclear on the position of non LAA areas on this. Nevertheless it is envisaged that we will be asking for some freedoms and flexibilities which have identified in the development of the SSCF: • flexibility to use money allocated to tackle drugs and the fear of drugs on tackling alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour. • On the worklessness agenda there are a number of freedoms and flexibilities being sought by other LAA areas in the first two rounds which apply nationally particularly around benefits and hours allowed for volunteering or work experience.
Freedoms and Flexibilities. In support of target 9 Change 1 - We would request NVQ equivalent (but not NVQ accredited) courses also to be considered under the PSA as they come on to the section 96 list (approved qualifications for pre 16's). This will allow us to consider new NVQ equivalent courses that appear during the three year PSA and also additional courses that we might not be aware of now. SCHEDULE 3: PUMP PRIMING GRANT IN SUPPORT OF INVEST TO SAVE OR INVEST TO IMPROVE PROJECTS To assist in achieving the targets set out in this Agreement, the Government will make a pump priming grant of £1,004,700 to Southwark Council as a contribution towards expenditure of an “invest to save” or “invest to improve” nature. This grant will be paid no later than the financial year end 2005/2006. The grant is intended to assist the authority in achieving the targets set out in the agreement. It must be spent, during the period of this Local PSA, or as otherwise agreed with the Government. Conditions protecting the proper use of public funds will apply. SCHEDULE 4: PERFORMANCE REWARD GRANT The provisions of this Schedule are subject to any additional provisions on the performance reward grant elsewhere in the Agreement. The total potential grant The total potential grant is equivalent to 2.5% of the authority’s net budget requirement for 2004/2005. It is divided equally among the targets except where specified otherwise. Where a target has sub-targets, the amount for the target is sub-divided equally among the sub-targets unless otherwise specified. The relevant net budget requirement for the London Borough of Southwark is £407.461m. Total grant if all the targets were fully achieved would be £10,186,525. The reward for achievement on a target The proportion of the potential grant attributed to a target or sub-target that is payable is the same as the proportion of the ‘enhancement in performance with the Local PSA’ specified in Schedule 1 that the authority achieves, subject to a maximum proportion of 100% and a minimum of 60%. If the authority achieves less than 60% of that enhancement in performance, nothing is included in the grant in relation to that target or sub-target. Payment of the grant Main grant The grant will be paid in two equal instalments in the financial year following that in which the end date of the Local PSA falls, and the next financial year, subject to the qualification below relating to interim payments on account.
Freedoms and Flexibilities. The second round pilots that we spoke to were in the process of putting together their freedoms and flexibilities for inclusion in their Local Area Agreement and were in negotiation with Government Office. For the majority of second round pilots no formal arrangement has been reached as to the number of freedoms and flexibility they are able to request but there was a feeling that the fewer flexibilities requested the more likely that they would be accepted. It was also mentioned that it may be useful to request similar freedoms and flexibilities to neighbouring authorities in order to work regionally as well as locally and to enhance the impact of this element of Local Area Agreements.
Freedoms and Flexibilities. Use of average point scores instead of levels to measure uplift.
Freedoms and Flexibilities. Use of average point scores instead of levels to measure uplift. To express targets in terms of value added in particular where Special Needs Classes affect the results.
Freedoms and Flexibilities. The range of approaches identified above will require negotiating a more flexible definition of what counts as “attendance” and what counts as “education off site” We would seek the freedom to be able to vary current legislation (Statutory instrument 2089) in order to be able to credit children with attendance where they gain most of their education either offsite or at unusual times of the day, eg. after school from 4-6 p.m. or evening classes.
Freedoms and Flexibilities. The achievement of the stretch would be made easier by a different approach to use of some of the ring fenced grants and flexibility around grant conditions - in particular Carers Grant, Preserved Rights Grant, the Access and Systems Grant (the guidance for this is draft) and the Performance Fund. We would look to be able to vary how the grants could be spent and with the Performance Fund freedom to carry it over into 2005/06. The SSI have signalled a willingness to assist in this negotiation. Some flexibility to deal with End of Year under / over spend would be advantageous, together with an agreement to use the activity levels in March 2006 instead of those reported via the HH1 in September 2005.
Freedoms and Flexibilities. Currently most of the targeted funding received by social services would have an appropriate impact on the target group for this LPSA. Further discussions will be required with colleagues in Education to see if any specific grants or funding they currently have would require some flexibility in order to target more successfully at this group. Some flexibility to deal with end of year under / over spend would be advantageous.
