Wokingham

A landmark agreement involving Wokingham District Council and its partner agencies was given the green light last night (February 23)and will bring in around £900,000 in government grant funding.
 
At its meeting last night, the council’s decision-making executive considered the final draft of Wokingham district’s Local Area Agreement (LAA), before it is finalised with central government.
 
It was announced in June that the Wokingham district was one of around 60 areas selected to take part in the first phase of the LAA initiative.  LAAs form part of the government’s ten-year strategy to build a new relationship between central and local government. The proposals outline new arrangements to develop and deliver a range of locally agreed outcomes; bring together and simplify funding streams; devolve decision-making; reduce bureaucracy and join up public services.
 
The LAA is closely focused on the partnership work carried out between the council and its partners in the district, and has been drawn up by the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) which includes the local police, the fire and rescue service, and primary care trust as well as representatives from voluntary and community agencies, the business sector, and town and parish councils. The council has led this work on behalf of the LSP.
 
The LAA identifies priorities and targets for the district under the following headings:
 

* Children and Young People
* Healthier Communities and Older People
* Safer and Stronger Communities
* Economic Development and Enterprise

 
Under these headings, key priorities have been identified and will be addressed over the three-year life of the agreement.  Although the LSP is collectively responsible for delivering on these priorities, each has been allocated a responsible lead agency.

 
The LSP will be monitored on its performance on the LAA priorities and specifically against identified ‘stretch’ measures that will attract up-front funding of around £900,000 from the government.  These are:

* To ensure that children and young people choose healthy lifestyles

* To ensure that children in care have stable local care arrangements

* Maintaining the high standards of educational achievement across the district in secondary schools

* To reduce unplanned acute hospital admissions amongst older people aged over 75

* To reduce obesity

* To reduce domestic violence in West Berkshire and Wokingham (joint target with West Berkshire Council)

* To reduce levels of crime including burglary and theft

* To reduce anti-social behaviour by reducing the number of deliberate fires and hoax calls

* To improve the environmental and social liveability of the district

* To increase the capacity and quality of volunteering across the district

* To improve home safety and increase awareness throughout the Wokingham district

 
For each of the 12 targets achieved over the three-year period of the agreement, the district will receive a reward payment of around £310,000 from central government, so overall the agreement means that up to £3.7million of additional central government money could come to the district.
 
Executive member for community development and chair of the Local Strategic Partnership Cllr Dianne King said: “The Local Area Agreement will be a landmark in partnership working within the district.
 
“The drafting of the LAA has involved all involved pulling together and identifying a clear way forward for the district.  Additionally, we have agreed on priorities that will attract significant government funding, allowing us to really move forward on key areas.”

Wokingham District Council