Funding streams pooled in local area agreements

A further 26 funding streams are to be automatically pooled in local area agreements from 2007, the government announced last week.

Pooled funding is to include the children’s services grant and antisocial behaviour grant.

Earlier this month 66 new local area agreements were signed, following on from 21 pilots. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has published new guidance on local area agreements. The agreements enable councils to pool government funding streams, in pursuit of targets agreed with Whitehall.

However research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies published earlier this year revealed that many of the pilot areas had doubts about the scheme, finding it inflexible.

Government guidance on local area agreements http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1164930