Local Area Agreement (LAA)

06 January 2009

Area Based Grant

Area Based Grants are a collection of grants which previously were allocated to organisations in local areas to fund particular pieces of work. This revenue funding is now going direct to local authorities who are free to use this non-ringfenced funding as they see fit to support the delivery of local, regional and national priorities in their areas.


Area Based Grant for Herefordshire
The Area Based Grant (previously known as the Local Area Agreement Single Pot) has grown and the number of funding streams included within it has increased significantly, as has the funding from £2.4 million in the Single Pot for Herefordshire in 2007/08 to £8.9 million in the Area Based Grant for 2008/09.


Herefordshire Community Strategy and the Local Area Agreement
The Area Based Grant can support the delivery of the Local Area Agreement and wider service provision in Herefordshire, towards the Community Strategy. The Area Based Grant has, however, been de-coupled from the Local Area Agreement, and does not have to be targeted solely towards it's Priorities and Performance Indicators.


Local management of the Area Based Grant
For 2008/09 the Herefordshire Partnership has strategically commissioned services through Partnerships/Boards via Area Based Grant funding. These Partnerships/Boards are:
Childrens Trust
Adult Commissioning Board
Community Safety and Drugs Partnership
Herefordshire Equalities Partnership
Rural Access Partnership
This commissioning process aims to reinforce links between Partnership's strategies, the Herefordshire Community Strategy and the new Local Area Agreement. The process should avoid duplication, identify gaps and opportunities for efficiencies in the future. The Partnerships/Boards must consider contributions towards the Guiding Principles, engagement with the voluntary and community sector and improved consultation on services with local people. During this year we will look at how we can move to a more flexible approach in service delivery in Herefordshire from 2009 to 2011.


For more information on Herefordshire's Area Based Grant contact Philippa Lydford on 01432 261788 or plydford@herefordshire.gov.uk

Further information and a copy of the Area Based Grant general guidance 2008, visit Communities and Local Government



Copyright © The Herefordshire Partnership 2009

Herefordshire Partnership, PO Box 4, Plough Lane, Hereford, HR4 0XH. Telephone: 01432 261792 e-mail: hfdpartnership@herefordshire.gov.uk