Multi-Area Agreements (MAAs) show local authorities coming together, pooling resources and recognising that the best way to crack some of the problems that matter most is through partnership.
Multi-Area Agreements represent the next step forward. They show local authorities coming together, pooling resources and recognising that the best way to crack some of the problems that matter most is through partnership.
City regions are the engine for economic growth, but there are barriers that stand in the way. Transport that does not join things up the way it should, a lack of high-quality housing, low levels of skills. The fact is that the city regions do not respect local authority boundaries. So it is vital to get local authorities working together on big things such as transport, housing and skills.
This is the view of Hazel Blears, Communities and Local Government Secretary, in announcing how Multi-Area Agreements (MAAs) are starting to reshape local economies - driving economic growth and prosperity in our communities and reducing financial inequalities between them.
In a signed public agreement with Government, groups of councils covering a functional economic area, working together with local agencies will pledge to boost economic growth and tackle deprivation and financial inequalities, in return for action by Government to devolve more and reduce barriers to delivering better outcomes. Actions so far have included include more flexible resources on housing, integrated and flexible employment and skills investment and choice to refocus national targets to increase support to businesses.
The Government's ambition is to drive growth in local economies and to close the gap with the top performing areas in the country through partnerships that cross local authority boundaries - authorities, government agencies such as Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council and the private and third sectors. Ultimately this would help boost regional prosperity and help people to reach their potential - connecting them to jobs, skills, and affordable homes, regardless of where they live or work.
In the first set of Multi-Area Agreements (MAAs) signed on 14 July 2008, seven groups of councils and local partners sealed their commitment to boost economic prosperity, in recognition that they can each achieve more together than individually.
These groups of councils and local partners across the country, acting as economic sub-regions or sub-regions, have stepped forward to develop their own bespoke MAAs whether to boost capital investment, create more homes, or enable employers to decide how to plug local skills gaps to reflect local job market needs.
A purely voluntary initiative, these agreements are the result of a new-style conversation between central and local government, and signal the drive within sub-regions to take collective responsibility to improve prosperity, tackle pockets of deprivation, and create places where people want to live, work and play.
Copyright © 2025 · All Rights Reserved · Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation
Warning: Undefined array key "User_id" in /home/irrvnet/public_html/forumalert/inc_footer.php on line 4