Communities & Local Government’s (CLG’s) Multi Area Agreement (MAA) Seminar - 16 July 2007

I must admit, I naively went along to this event expecting to hear first and foremost the latest on CLG’s detailed thinking and developing content for its MAA guidance, which is now expected to be published by the end of December 2007.  So pen at the ready, I was slightly disapppointed to quickly gauge that instead, the emphasis was on learning from experiences from the audience - mainly a range of local strategic partners (local authorities, Government Offices, local strategic partnerships and various (sub) regional organisations) as well as Government Departments.But saying that and very quickly turning this into the positive, what this immediately gave me was the sense that CLG really does want to hear the wants and needs of local and sub-regional strategic partners across administrative boundaries.  This will ensure that rather than the MAA guidance coming out with the then intention to consult, the guidance instead will come out already including a range of ideas and actual developments from real life examples and a range of organisations already involved and doing all this - far more timely and useful.CLG did outline some basics about their current thinking - Andrew Cambell, Director of Local Strategic Partnerships & Performance, in setting the policy context outlined that:

• the Sub National Economic Development & Regeneration Review, which is likely to come out 17 July 2007 (tomorrow), will help frame thinking on MAAs, so watch this space…
• MAAs will be voluntary and add value - where appropriate at the right spatial level, e.g. sub-regional
• economic development is a natural, probable focus for MAAs but doesn’t rule out other strategic cross-boundary issues that could be dealt with such as culture or sustainable communities
• citizen engagement, empowerment and communications (a la Hazel Blears) also need consideration - citizens might not be interested in the bureaucracy but will be interested in the difference this work will make on their lives
• MAAs must not be an add on to the developing National Performance Framework and must build on what’s already out there, e.g. in terms of partnerships and strategies.

Inevitably there were a number of presentations from various perspectives, from national policy and city-regions perspectives, from developing MAAs out there (South Yorkshire and Tees Valley) and from Government Departments (for Transport, and Work & Pensions).  Within all of these a lot was said but here are the key messages I took away from these presentations:

• MAAs provide a real opportunity for cross-boundary partnerships to develop appropriate, sub-regional agenda specific to local need - CLG and such partnerships are working positively together on these.  This is not to say there aren’t sometimes difficulties but they are being addressed productively and positively.
• Working at an MAA/sub-regional level doesn’t always require Government involvement or approval - it can simply enhance what’s already going on, so a key message is to ‘just get on with it’.
• But where Government can help through an MAA, especially with regard to a whole variety of funding issues, make it clear how, outline what you need, why, what could be achieved through this and the added value of doing so - the more Government can see the case, the more they can assist. 
• The more CLG is aware of these issues, the more they can feature in the developing MAA guidance and assist you and others - so let them know how it is for you.

Further key messages emerged from the two discussion and feedback sessions from the day and again, I just outline the key ones for me here:

• Government needs to recognise that partnerships and their intended outcomes don’t happen overnight - MAAs need 5-10 year plans and strategies - trust, strategies, timetables and delivery - especially when it comes to economic development related changes or two-tier areas, take time.  It is recognised however that national politics can require that these outcomes happen faster than partnerships would like.
• MAA guidance will have to be flexible as no two MAAs will be the same (in an attempt to avoid the phrase ‘one size doesn’t fit all’!)  
• MAAs mustn’t stand alone - they must link to or complement existing strategies and/or models of partnership working.

I’ve purposely drawn out key, generic messages that I picked up from the day but of course, there was a lot more detail in each of the presentations, especially those from South Yorkshire and Tees Valley.  But all in all, even though I had wanted to hear what ‘the latest’ was, I think I was much happier with what I actually heard, that CLG want to develop the MAA guidance on real experience at sub-regional level and that cross-boundary partnerships are working with CLG in a really positive way to take this agenda forward.