Issue - meetings

This report discusses proposals for the use of the Local Public Service Agreements 2 (LPSA2) reward grant and the proposed financial policy which will govern York’s second Local Area Agreement (LAA), and also provides an update on progress towards the completion of the LAA.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the methodology that has been developed for allocating the LPSA2 reward grant be approved, subject to the inclusion on the application form of more specific targets and milestones and the establishment of a robust progress reporting mechanism.

REASON:      To initiate the use of LPSA2 reward grant to support the outcomes of the Local Area Agreement (LAA), as previously agreed in principle.

                        (ii)        That the draft list of LAA performance indicators (PIs) included in the report be noted, with some concerns.

                        (iii)       That the Chief Executive be instructed to review the proposed LAA PI list, in consultation with responsible Members, to ensure that the PIs are focused on achieving identifiable and verifiable improvements in street level public services.

REASON:      So that Members can be satisfied that these issues have been addressed when the draft PIs come before the Executive for approval next month.

Members considered a report which discussed proposals for the use of the Local Public Service Agreements 2 (LPSA2) reward grant and the proposed financial policy that would govern York’s second Local Area Agreement (LAA).  It also provided an update on progress towards completion of the LAA. 

In July 2007, the Executive had agreed in principle to use the LPSA2 reward grant to support the outcomes of the LAA, stressing that subsequent decisions on its specific use would be considered in the context of the wider budget setting process.  They had asked the Directors of City Strategy and Resources to develop a robust bid process to facilitate the allocation of any LPSA2 grant funding that might become available.  In response to this request, the report outlined a proposed methodology, enabling the Executive to act as commissioning body and employ a selection process for considering business case applications. 

The methodology, which was based upon that already used in the allocation of Council capital and revenue bids, was detailed in Annex A to the report.  It was proposed that the Executive Delivery Board of the Local Strategic Partnership (Without Walls) consider any suggested projects in accordance with this methodology before reporting back to the Executive.  A set of principles that would govern the bidding process was summarised in paragraph 16 of the report.  The most recent version of the proposed performance indicators for the LAA, which were currently being agreed and negotiated with central government, was attached as Annex B.

Having noted the advice of the Shadow Executive on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the methodology that has been developed for allocating the LPSA2 reward grant be approved, subject to the inclusion on the application form of more specific targets and milestones and the establishment of a robust progress reporting mechanism.¹

REASON:      To initiate the use of LPSA2 reward grant to support the outcomes of the Local Area Agreement (LAA), as previously agreed in principle.

                        (ii)        That the draft list of LAA performance indicators (PIs) included in the report be noted, with some concerns.

                        (iii)       That the Chief Executive be instructed to review the proposed LAA PI list, in consultation with responsible Members, to ensure that the PIs are focused on achieving identifiable and verifiable improvements in street level public services.²

REASON:      So that Members can be satisfied that these issues have been addressed when the draft PIs come before the Executive for approval next month.