Commentary on Sections Introduction Chapter 1: Local Area Agreements and Community Strategies Section 105: “Local improvement targets”: interpretation
234.This section introduces the term “local improvement target” to describe any target that has the aim of improving the economic, social or environmental well-being of a responsible authority’s geographical area. Each target must relate to that authority and/or one or more partner authorities and/or one or more other persons.
235.It is envisaged that the targets will include approximately 35 targets relating to the national indicator set for local government (as determined through Public Service Agreements). The LAA will also include local priority targets. These are targets which do not necessarily relate to the national indicator set but which the responsible authority and/or partner authorities and/or others believe would be beneficial for their area.
236.Subsection (2) provides that a target relates to the responsible local authority where any function of the local authority or any thing done by it could contribute to achieving the target. Subsection (3) provides that a target will relate to another body or person where that person when exercising his functions or anything done by that person could contribute to the attainment of the target and that person has consented to the target being specified in the LAA. For example, in relation to a target to reduce childhood obesity the primary responsibility would lie with the Primary Care Trust but the local authority would have a role to play in relation to its function as an education authority and also through social services and youth services. The target could only be included in the LAA by the responsible authority with the agreement of the Primary Care Trust.