Commentary on Sections Section 101: Repeal of duties relating to local area agreements
468.This section repeals legislation relating to Local Area Agreements (“LAAs”).
469.LAAs were three-year agreements between local authorities, their partners and the previous government to work collectively to improve local areas. The decision to “decentralise” existing LAAs and not to require LAAs in future years was announced on 13 October 2010. As there are no longer any LAAs in local areas, in Chapter 1 of Part 5 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, sections 105 to 113 and parts of sections 117 and 118 are no longer required.
470.The remaining sections in the Chapter are retained as they contain definitions used elsewhere in legislation (sections 103 – 104), amend current legislation (section 115) or relate to current policy – joint strategic needs assessments and joint health and wellbeing strategies (sections 116, 116A and 116B).
471.The 2007 Act forms part of the law of England and Wales, but the LAA-related provisions in Chapter 1 of Part 5 apply only to English authorities specified as “responsible local authorities” in section 103. This section has the same extent and application and comes into force at the end of the period of 2 months beginning with the day on which the Act is passed.