Freedoms and Flexibilities Clause Samples

Freedoms and Flexibilities. Use of average point scores instead of levels to measure uplift. To express targets in terms of value added in particular where Special Needs Classes affect the results.

Freedoms and Flexibilities. In addition to the core freedoms and flexibilities outlined in the ODPM Guidance the following specific Freedoms and Flexibilities are sought for the Leicestershire LAA. More detail is contained in Appendix 6. In summary, the freedoms and flexibilities initially being sought are: Older People To be developed further. Data sharing between health, social care and pensions service Flexibility on procurement restrictions re vending machines and catering Flexibility on pricing policies in leisure centres and access for hard to reach groups Flexibility to direct Mental Health Support Grant to Health Promotion Activities Flexibility to direct Learning Disability Development Fund to Health Promotion Activities (Further discussion taking place to clarify requirements and to test need for them) Young People Flexibility in use of Carers Grant (from only providing carer “breaks”) and Children’s Fund ( ability to carry forward funding) Relaxing of the ring fencing of drugs treatment budgets Relaxation of the capital/revenue split Cleaner & Greener Flexibility to be able to sue core funding from Business Link, UKTI and LSC to work within the LAA priority sectors Freedom from emda performance management arrangements

Freedoms and Flexibilities. 5.9.1 As this is not officially the LAA this has not been a focus of the SSCF and the current guidance is unclear on the position of non LAA areas on this. Nevertheless it is envisaged that we will be asking for some freedoms and flexibilities which have identified in the development of the SSCF: • flexibility to use money allocated to tackle drugs and the fear of drugs on tackling alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour. • On the worklessness agenda there are a number of freedoms and flexibilities being sought by other LAA areas in the first two rounds which apply nationally particularly around benefits and hours allowed for volunteering or work experience.

Freedoms and Flexibilities. The range of approaches identified above will require negotiating a more flexible definition of what counts as “attendance” and what counts as “education off site” We would seek the freedom to be able to vary current legislation (Statutory instrument 2089) in order to be able to credit children with attendance where they gain most of their education either offsite or at unusual times of the day, eg. after school from 4-6 p.m. or evening classes.

Freedoms and Flexibilities. The Government intends to make the changes specified below in various statutory and administrative requirements, as they relate to Cumbria County Council [and to pursue the further discussions described below]. The legal and practical feasibility of some of the changes had not been established at the time that this agreement was concluded. If the precise changes specified prove infeasible, the Government will use its best endeavours to achieve substantially the same effects by other means. ▪ The criteria for siting speed cameras to be relaxed to recognise the reduced density of collisions in rural areas, thus allowing more speed camera sites to be provided and the possibility of whole route treatments ▪ Cumbria County Council wishes to actively participate in DfT’s investigation of effective speed management and speed limit signing in rural areas with particular reference to the Lake District ▪ Consideration to be given in the future to the inclusion of skidding resistance as a factor in the formula for distributing grants for principal roads maintenance

Freedoms and Flexibilities. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will establish arrangements which allow for receipts arising from Fixed Penalty Notices for dog fouling and street littering issued under the Dog Fouling - Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 and the Environmental Protection Act, surrendered by Wirral Council to the Secretary of State, to be repaid to the Authority for use in relation to approved categories of initiatives to further improve street cleanliness in Wirral. The income derived could then be used to support litter prevention action.

Freedoms and Flexibilities. Some freedoms and flexibilities identified that would help achieve the target are identified as: When responding to the government consultation paper “e-gov at local” (April 2002) about tackling obstacles to close joint working, we identified that clearer guidance is needed which enables information to be shared. This includes the development of unique reference numbers, which are common across partner organisations. The ability to share information and data effectively to mutual benefit will advance the case for joint provision immeasurably, and improve customer access to services. A further flexibility that is required is the need to be able to work closely with colleagues in the DWP and Job Centre Plus to organise, to some degree, joint visits or sharing of information from visits to clients homes.

Freedoms and Flexibilities. In support of target 9 SCHEDULE 3: PUMP PRIMING GRANT IN SUPPORT OF INVEST TO SAVE OR INVEST TO IMPROVE PROJECTS SCHEDULE 4: PERFORMANCE REWARD GRANT The total potential grant The reward for achievement on a target Payment of the grant

Freedoms and Flexibilities. The second round pilots that we spoke to were in the process of putting together their freedoms and flexibilities for inclusion in their Local Area Agreement and were in negotiation with Government Office. For the majority of second round pilots no formal arrangement has been reached as to the number of freedoms and flexibility they are able to request but there was a feeling that the fewer flexibilities requested the more likely that they would be accepted. It was also mentioned that it may be useful to request similar freedoms and flexibilities to neighbouring authorities in order to work regionally as well as locally and to enhance the impact of this element of Local Area Agreements.