PART I (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
ITEM NO.
Report of the Leader
To Cabinet Meeting, 12th December, 2006
Approval of the Salford Agreement 2007-10
RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Cabinet:
1. Approves the Salford Agreement 2007-10 for submission to Government Office by 20
December 2006
2. Delegates authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and
Deputy Leader to approve detailed amendments to the Agreement before
submission.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This report reviews progress on the development of the Salford Agreement, including
feedback from Government Office on the draft Agreement, consultation, funding, governance
and how officers are developing proposals for delivering the Agreement.
In addition, this report outlines the timescales and approvals for the final submission and
requests delegated powers to the Chief Executive and the Leader for approving the
Agreement prior to the 20th December.
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS :

Salford Agreement 2007-10 – copies of this 81 page document are also available for
inspection in the Members’ Library and on the Salford Strategic Partnership’s website
at http://www.partnersinsalford.org.

Draft Salford Agreement submitted to Government Office, September 2006

Draft outcomes framework, June 2006
ASSESSMENT OF RISK:
There was a medium risk to the Council’s reputation with local
partner agencies and with Government associated with the Agreement’s development.
These have been avoided by elected members’ engagement with the process and by close
partnership working and support.
The remaining risk is low and relates to the technical detail of the Agreement which will be
subject to further discussions with Government before the Agreement receives ministerial
approval in February 2007. There are no indications from Government Office that there is
any risk that the Agreement will not receive ministerial approval.
SOURCES OF FUNDING:
Existing budgets
LEGAL ADVICE OBTAINED: None
FINANCIAL ADVICE OBTAINED: Wendy Gregory, Group Accountant
PROPERTY: N/A
HUMAN RESOURCES: N/A
CONTACT OFFICER : Alan Tomlinson, Assistant Director (Policy & Improvement), Chief
Executive’s Directorate 0161 793 2560
WARDS TO WHICH REPORT RELATES : All
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
The progress and development made on the agreement since last submission
has resulted from extensive discussions with partners from the public and
voluntary and community sectors, and regular feedback from with Government
Office. Community engagement has commenced and will continue throughout
the delivery stages of the Agreement.
2.
INFORMATION
The Agreement
2.1 The Salford Agreement is shaped around five objectives which relate directly to
the community plan themes and are based on robust evidence of what matters to
local people and supported by local intelligence. The objectives are to:
1. Improve economic prosperity through educational attainment, skills,
employment, and enterprise
2. Improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities
3. Improve community safety
4. Improve community engagement
5. Improve environmental sustainability
2.2 A total of 30 outcomes are listed under these objectives. 86 indicators and
targets will prompt action to deliver these outcomes and will provide performance
management measures of that progress. The full 81 page Agreement is also
available for inspection on Salford Strategic Partnership’s website. Any additional
copies can be provided by the Policy and Improvement Team.
2.3 Government Office responded positively to the draft Agreement submitted at the
end of September. It noted that the draft was “showing real strength in some
areas – particularly the relationship to Salford’s community strategy and the
prioritisation of local objectives”.
2.4 The LSP Executive on 24 October considered a version of the outcomes
framework revised in the light of some of these comments. The Executive
endorsed this version and a leaflet for public consultation. This version and the
leaflet were circulated on 1 November to members of the Working Group.
2.5 In the Cabinet Briefing on the 28th November, members raised concerns about
Objective 5 of the agreement - Improving Environmental Sustainability and also
with reference to road safety issues. As a result, officers have responded to such
concerns by strengthening the relevant sections of the agreement, including
improvements to existing targets and a new performance indicator on reducing
number of people killed or seriously injured.
Community consultation
2.6 The Agreement will implement the priorities and aspirations that the people of
Salford have already identified through numerous consultation exercises. Thus
consultation has focussed to a lesser extent on priorities and more on how we
can most effectively deliver the agreement across Salford.
Delivery planning
2.7 The outcomes in the Agreement will delivered at city, ward, and small area level,
incorporating proposals already identified in community action plans. Delivery at
city level is well established for many services, and Neighbourhood Management
Teams covering two or three wards provide some experience at that level.
Draft for comments from Leader, Chief Executive and Assistant Chief Executive
Delivery at small area level is less well developed. Some initial scoping of how
we may target neighbourhoods (below ward level) has commenced.
2.8 A range of indicators show five wards with high levels of deprivation, these are:
Langworthy, Irwell Riverside, Broughton, Ordsall, and Little Hulton. Three others
show high levels of deprivation in relation to health and community safety:
Winton, Barton and Kersal.
2.9 Partner organisations and directorates are expected to include proposals arising
from delivery planning for the Agreement in their service planning for the next
three years.
Funding
2.10 Appendix B and C lists the funds that the Agreement identifies for pooling. Many
funds are already committed for 2007/8, including the Neighbourhood Renewal
Fund.
2.11 A review of how current funding is allocated is taking place to identify potential
gaps in funding and assess whether any re-allocation or re-alignment of funds is
required.
2.12 A report to the Cabinet LAA Working Group in January 2007 will present any risks
arising and make some specific recommendations.
Governance and performance management
2.13 The LSP Board will consider a draft of the Agreement on 23 November. Other
partner agencies are seeking endorsement from their governing bodies of the
Agreement.
2.14 The recently completed review of the Salford Strategic Partnership (the LSP)
outlines thematic partnerships being held to account for performance against the
Community Plan and Salford Agreement. Officers are considering how to the
Partnership could use the Council’s PMF database to generate reports on the
progress against the Agreement.
Timescales and approvals
2.14The Agreement will be taken to the LSP Executive on the 7th December for final
endorsement prior to the submission on the 20th December. However, it is likely
that between the 7th and 20th, some final amendments will be made, especially
to finalising the small area data, the design and format of the document.
2.15In light of this, we are seeking delegated powers be afforded to the Chief
Executive, Leader and Deputy Leader to approve the Agreement prior to the
submission on the 20th December.
3.
CONCLUSION
3.1 Salford has made good progress on its Agreement. It is ahead of many other
areas in both the strength of its strategic framework and its early start on delivery
planning.
3.2 Finalising the technical detail in the Agreement continues to ensure that the
submission Agreement to Government Office is on target. Overall the Agreement
Draft for comments from Leader, Chief Executive and Assistant Chief Executive
focuses on stimulating the improvements identified in the community strategy,
and in particular engaging local people in making those improvements.
Kevin Brady
Assistant Chief Executive
November 2006