Multi-Area Agreement
In September 2009 the four West of England authorities signed a Multi Area Agreement (MAA) with
- Rt Hon Rosie Winterton, Minister for Local Government,
- Jim Knight MP, Minister for the South West,
- the Regional Development Agency,
- the Homes and Communities Agency,
- the Highways Agency,
- the Learning and Skills Councils and
- Jobcentre Plus.
A Multi-Area Agreement is a framework that aims to encourage cross-boundary partnership working at the regional and sub-regional level. They bring together key players in flexible ways to tackle issues that are best addresses in partnership at a regional and sub-regional level.
It is a voluntary agreement between two or more top tier or unitary authorities, their partners and the government to work collectively to improve local economic prosperity.
A successful MAA is tailored to the specific challenges of the area and is grounded in capacity, skills and robust partner relationships. There have to be clear lines of accountability and they must add value and not overlap with other policies.
See the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) site for more information on multi-area agreements.
The agreement involves funding for the West of England with less red tape, provided the sub-region delivers specified outcomes - agreed funding, less red tape, provided we do what we said we’d do.
In the MAA the West of England authorities have signed up to deliver a number of actions to
- Mitigate the impact of the current economic recession and act to support an early upturn
- Plan and manage the growth in homes and jobs to build mixed and sustainable communities
- Improve access and reduce traffic ongestion to increase competitiveness and quality of life
- Attract and grown business investment to increase economic growth and competitiveness
- Improve skills and reduce worklessness to increase competitiveness, growth and regeneration.
In addition the four authorities have committed to reaching key performance relating to skills and worklessness and transport.
In return the government and agencies will provide greater freedom and flexibility in its approach to issues such as
- Agreeing simplified checks and controls and more flexibility in the use of resources
- Streamlining the approach to major transport schemes approvals
- Establishing a formal engagement agreement with rail industry partners and stakeholders
- Formal joint planning with the Highways Agency.
Read the full MAA (approx 150 pages).
The signed agreement (20 pages) contains tables with freedoms and flexibilities the Government will deliver in return for the improved outcomes that the authorities have signed up to in three areas:
- Plan and manage growth in homes and jobs to build mixed and sustainable communities.
- Improve access and reduce traffic congestion to increase competitiveness and quality of life.
- Improve skills and reduce worklessness to increase completeness and regenerate communities.