Local Area Agreement (LAA) Toolkit

The Local Area Agreement (LAA) Toolkit is a partnership project hosted by the Southeast Cultural Observatory
The Toolkit is an online resource to support the work of cultural organisations and to ensure that the role of culture is factored into local area agreements (LAAs) by local government
The project has two target audiences:
- Local authority policy officers developing community strategies and LAAs
- People working in the cultural sector who want to influence LAAs and community strategies
Content is themed under nine subject areas, including young people, crime reduction and health
It uses case studies to highlight examples where culture has had an impact on local communities. These include community education at Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club and the Shepway Fun Fit Foodshow

In 2005 cultural partners in the region ran a series of workshops to help chief cultural officers to embed culture into LAAs. The workshops identified the need for a toolkit to provide regional guidance to inform future versions of local agreements
Key partners in the project are: Government Office South East (GOSE); South East England Development Agency (SEEDA); Culture South East; Southeast Cultural Observatory; Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) South East; Arts Council England (ACE) South East; Sport England South East; Tourism South East; Play England; Screen South; English Heritage, South East; and local authorities

Since its launch, the project has received very favourable feedback and was highlighted by IDeA and the London Development Agency (LDA) as an example of good practice, in their publication A Passion for Excellence. Local authorities within the region show a high level of awareness of the toolkit. So far, 17 out of the 19 LAAs have included cultural indicators, with the others considering adopting cultural indicators in the future
Feedback has indicated that a future audience could include elected members and cultural champions in each locality
Work will be progressed in the coming year to reflect culture’s contribution to the economic agenda and the implementation of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) through LAAs

Paul Hillman

Tel: 01934 427427

Fax: 01934 427323

Gill Perkin: Culture Senior Policy Officer

Government Office for the South East

Access practical advice and guidance in relation to living places programmes and the benefits.

living places has drawn together a number of case studies demonstrating successful programmes and the benefits.