The Local Area Agreement (LAA) set out priorities for a local area, lasting 3-years aiming to 'deliver sustainable communities through better outcomes for local people'. LAA's aim to improve central and local government relations, enhance efficiency and strengthen opportunity for partnership.

LAAs are intended to devolve decision making from Whitehall to the local area and
reduce bureaucracy. Successful LAAs:

• Simplify central funding
• Join up public services more effectively
• Allow greater flexibility for developing local solutions and targeting funding towards local priorities.

Local Area Agreements are in part about enabling grassroots community projects to collaborate with larger organisations, the local authority and the public sector.

How effective have LAA's been in your work? You can voice your experience about LAA's to the National Association of Voluntary Action Organisations via a short survey. Use your voice and share your views. The results will be used by NAVCA to inform government policy.