To agree the final version of the Local Area Agreement for submission to Government Office.

Cabinet received the final report on the Development of the Local Area Agreement for submission to Government Office and were advised the report would be submitted to the Herefordshire Partnership for approval the following day.  Cabinet was reminded the Council was the accountable body and had a key leadership role in ensuring its successful delivery by partner organisations and was being driven forward by the Joint Management Team.  Cabinet was informed of updates and advised that the Primary Care Trust (PCT) was in the final stages of agreeing targets for the next three years.  The stopping smoking targets for 2008/09 were more challenging and the target for 2010/11 had increased by 1 to 818, which the PCT was confident would be achievable.  It was added that government had given new national guidelines that the PCT was working to achieve on alcohol harm related hospital admission rates.  Additionally work was being prepared on an action plan and the collation of consistent information.  It was stated that the target figures presented had been agreed by all partner organisations.

In response to a question on the absence of some data in the LAA improvement targets, Members were advised that a survey of place would be conducted during the which would set some future baseline information, additionally Government was considering technical specification on some indicators and how information would be calculated.

On a point of correction, the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Community Services requested that the reference to the value of tourism (page 26 paragraph 4) be amended to state £395 million.

It was stated that the LAA indicators had been negotiated over many months and that during the process and in discussions with GOWM some indicators had been amended.  Due to the close working with GOWM it was expected that the indicators would be commended by the Government Office to the Minister for final sign off.

RESOLVED That: Herefordshire’s Local Area Agreement be agreed for submission to Government Office for ministerial sign off in June 2008.