This document discusses the Local Area Agreement (LAA) as a form of hybrid governance in the United Kingdom. It describes how the LAA combines elements of networks, hierarchies, and markets to coordinate local partners in achieving national priorities. Over time, the LAA has evolved from an initial focus on specific initiatives to become more integrated with other local governance structures like Sustainable Community Strategies and Local Strategic Partnerships. The document examines how the LAA is changing public administration in practice by requiring skills like brokerage, boundary spanning, and liminal management among local officials.

1. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
Mediating Networks, Hierarchies and
Market Approaches
The role of the Local Area Agreement (LAA) as a
governance hybrid

2. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
Dr. Jon Coaffee & Nicola Headlam
PAC Stormont Conference September 2007
Regeneration Management Theme
Policy and Practice : The challenge for local
governance after the white paper

3. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
Local governance hybrids
Twin Tracks ;
• LG “form” and “function”
• Urban policy from 1977 White Paper
• Post 1997 intensification – NSNR etc
• Area Based Initiatives (ABI)
• “initiative-itis”
• “Muddled middle”
• “Pragmatic localism”
• Turn toward governance solutions
Introduction

4. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
Local governance hybrids
• “addiction” to partnerships
• Partnership working
• Joined up government
• Shared services
• Transformational government
• Delegation - devolution – de-centralisation
• “Partnerships are net absorbers of value”
The partnership panacea

5. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
HO PSA Delivery
PSA
5
PSA
3
PSA 2 (Joint
OCJR)
PSA
1
PSA
4
PSA
7
PSA
6
One City
Partnership
(LSP)
Notts Police
GOEM
(43Staff)
5 Police Forces; 9 DATs;
40 CDRPs; 49 Local Auth’s
ProbationPrisonsNASS ASB
Policing
Policy
Policing
Standards
Crime
Reduction
Drugs ACDCCU, REU, F
NDCLCJB
9 Area Committees
NOMS
CJS
OCJR CRCSG CommunitiesIND
Nottingham
City Council
Police
Authority
Probation
Inspectorate
CDRP DAT
CJIP
Compact
CPS
HMIC
Prisons
Inspectorate
Individual Regional Offices
Nott BCU
Probation
Service
YOT
Courts
R
E
G
I
O
N
A
L
N
A
T
I
O
N
A
L
L
O
C
A
L
HMP
Voluntary & Community Sector

6. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
Local governance hybrids
• Partnership addiction at ABI scale
• Partnership Virus (Brighouse)
• Abusive partnerships
• Terms of Reference
• Culture
• RDAs from 1999
• Skills for “liminal management”
…morphs into network governance

7. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
Local Governance Hybrids
• Network
• Hierarchy
• Market
• Hybrids
• Improvised forms
• Tensions
Other forms of governance

8. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
Local governance hybrids
• The A of the LAA is not the A of the ABI
• “Place shaping” ??which place??
• Fluidity “within” and “between”
• Regional question
• City Regional-Neighbourhood Renewal (Turok & Robson)
• ??LAA as “connector” from CR-NR??
Governance at other scales

9. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester

10. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
Local Governance Hybrids
• Rapid change in focus and position
• “orphan policy” nationally
• Ignored regionally
• Enthusiastically embraced locally (pilots)
• “Eating a cloud with a knife and fork”
• Phase II and roll-out
The LAA 2004-2007

11. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
LAA Framework
Local
Community
Local partners
National
Priorities
Monitoring
and
Reporting
Outcomes
Scrutiny
Sustainable
Communities
Strategy
Funding
LAA
Enterprise & Economic Development
Healthier communities, and older people
Safer and stronger communities
Children and young people
---------------------------------------------------
LAA Reward Grant
LSP

12. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
Local Governance Hybrids
• Fit between SCS, LSP, LAA and LDF clarified
• LGPIH Act 2007…
• “Duty to have regard to”
• “Duty to prepare”
• “Duty to consult” 15 statutory consultees
The LAA within the LGWP 2006

13. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester

14. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester

15. Combining the strengths of UMIST and
The Victoria University of Manchester
Local Governance Hybrids
• Brokerage / boundary spanning role
• Boundary objects
• Liminal managers
• Leadership
• Egan skills etc.
• ??local prioritisation and decision making??
How the LAA is changing Public Administration in practice