Commentary on Sections Introduction
228.This Part provides for a local area agreement (“LAA”), which will be an agreement between a local authority and certain partner authorities, approved by the Secretary of State. It will be prepared by the local authority which will consult partner authorities and others (this will include persons from the voluntary and community sector and local businesses). The local authority and partner authorities will co-operate with each other in determining local improvement targets for the area to be included in the LAA. It also amends section 4 of the Local Government Act 2000 to provide that the local authorities which prepare LAAs must consult partner authorities when preparing their community strategy. Section 116 introduces a requirement on local authorities and Primary Care Trusts to undertake a joint strategic needs assessment of the health and social care needs of its local populations.
229.This Part also amends the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000 in respect of local authority overview and scrutiny committees. It seeks to strengthen the role of the overview and scrutiny committees to improve accountability. It enables committees to review specific actions of those public bodies specified in section 104 operating in their area and to require them to provide information or appear before them. It also requires the local authority or the authority's executive to respond to its reports or recommendations.