The new performance framework for local authorities includes different arrangements for local area agreements (LAAs) from 2008. These are expected to strengthen the role of LAAs, deliver better partnership working and improve service delivery to the public.

Every county and unitary authority (lead local authorities) now has a duty to prepare a LAA. The LAA is expected to be the single delivery agreement between central government and local government and its partners. It is also the delivery plan for the sustainable community strategy and contains a single set of improvement targets for all local partners.

The approach to LAAs from April 2008 presents challenges and opportunities for culture and sport:

• The new national indicator set consists of 198 performance indicators including 6 culture and sport indicators. Up to 35 of the indicators will be included in each LAA, through negotiation with regional government offices. This means that culture and sport will face stiff competition from other sectors and services for inclusion in this ‘designated’, or ‘core’, set of targets
• There is further potential for culture and sport to be included in the ‘non-designated’ targets in the LAA. These are based on local priorities drawn from the sustainable community strategy. They are agreed and monitored by local partners only.
• Culture and sport are high priorities for some parts of the South East. The cross-cutting approach encouraged in new style LAAs should provide more scope to reflect the importance of culture and sport.

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