Local Area Agreements (LAA) are three year contracts between central and local government setting out the priorities for a local area and how these will be tackled in partnership. LAAs also provide 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 currently working on delivering the 2008-2011 LAA, which reflects the priorities set out in the county-wide Sustainable Community Strategy. The LAA was 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 June 2010 with a review of some of the targets for delivery.
The current government abolished LAAs in 2010, so there will be no further refreshes or new LAAs once the 2008-2011 Agreement has run its course.