Welcome to AGMA’s second quarterly newsletter. Your overview of the key work going on across Greater Manchester.

AGMA and how we work
If you are new to AGMA or would simply like to know more about AGMA and how it works visit our website:
http://www.agma.gov.uk/

HISTORIC MOMENT FOR GREATER MANCHESTER

As of the 1^st April 2011 the AGMA authorities are the first UK sub region to become a Combined Authority.  This sub-regional body has legal personality and can act across the combined area of Greater Manchester, taking on functions and responsibilities for economic development, regeneration and transport.

Becoming a Combined Authority will see more powers granted to Greater Manchester from central government. In the long term this means improved economic performance and a brighter future for our city and the North West.

In February AGMA approved exciting plans to streamline the city’s economic and marketing bodies, creating three distinct centres of excellence.

This will see Marketing Manchester and Visit Manchester merge to take the lead and run the city’s tourism, marketing and communications strategies. New Economy will work on employment, research and skills while Midas will join with Business Support Solutions and Skills Solutions that focus growth and investment.

This new way of working will better support each of Greater Manchester’s local authorities and continue to focus on driving economic growth.

Further details can be found in the Executive report:

http://www.agma.gov.uk/cms_media/files/7_the_manchester_family_review.pdf

GREATER MANCHESTER LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP (LEP)

During April 2011 the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership will become fully operational. As reported in the last edition, the enterprise will be private sector led and consist of a non-local authority Chair with up to 12 Board Members (four from Local Government plus eight from non-Local Government).   Mike Blackburn BT’s Regional Director for the North West will Chair the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (GM LEP) when it becomes operational on Friday 1^st April 2011.

The Greater Manchester LEP will play a key role in shaping the strategy and overseeing delivery in a number of areas:

• Employment and Skills
• Business Support for New Businesses and Growth
• Inward Investment and International Trade
• Marketing and Tourism
• European Funding
• Low Carbon Economy
• Planning, Housing and Transport
• Research and Strategy Development

A web site for the LEP will be online soon, but in the interim and for further details visit:

http://www.agma.gov.uk/local-enterprise-partnership/index.html

SINGLE ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK

To help ensure Greater Manchester receives as much funding as possible we’ve been working on a Single Assessment Framework (SAF).  SAF is a robust, qualitative and quantative mechanism designed to aid those all important decisions on investment and in turn stimulate private sector growth and job creation.  The framework will play a pivotal role in maximising funding available to Greater Manchester through the Regional Growth Fund, Evergreen, Tax Increment Financing and in due course other capital sources, such as the European Regional Development Fund.

 AGMA FUTURE JOBS FUND UPDATE                                          

To date, a fantastic total of 7,651 people have started in Future Jobs Fund (FJF) jobs across Greater Manchester and the programme is on track to meet its target of 8,000 people starting jobs by the end of March 2011. 

Partners are now taking the next steps to support their FJF employees and where possible helping them into work across the private sector when their time on the programme ends

Work is well underway to ensure the legacy of FJF can be maximised, as we implement Get Britain Working measures, such as work experience for young people, across GM. 

FLOOD AND WATER MANAGEMENT DUTIES COME INTO FORCE

Increased responsibilities for Lead Local Flood Authorities under the Flood and Water Management Act have now been sanctioned.  

New responsibilities include:

• The duty to investigate flood incidents and publish the findings.
• The duty to maintain a register of flood risk assets and a record of their    condition.
• The power to request information such as maps and historical data from partners.

Defra will provide each Lead Local Authorities with funding to help deliver these new responsibilities.

Further changes are due in October this year which are expected to include the new role for councils in providing consent for works on all watercourses which are not main rivers council.

For further information on Flood and Water Management visit:

http://www.agma.gov.uk/commissions1/planning_housing_commission/planning-housing-update/p-h-update-march-2011/index.html

NEW LOCAL INVESTMENT PLAN FOR GREATER MANCHESTER

A fresh approach to generating investment in housing and regeneration for Greater Manchester is outlined in a new Local Investment Plan.

This second Local Investment Plan (LIP2), agreed by AGMA and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), sets a new course, intended as a prospectus and making the case for public and private investment. The Plan aims to help partners achieve more for less by:

• Encouraging the development of new models of investment in housing and regeneration
• Agreeing priorities across Greater Manchester so that focused investment can go further in delivering what local people need most
• Achieving greater autonomy for AGMA to sign off on its investment priorities.

For further information on the Local Investment Plan (LIP2) visit:

http://www.agma.gov.uk/latest-news/new-local-investment-plan-for-greater-manchester/index.html

A CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY FOR GREATER MANCHESTER

A Greater Manchester Climate Change strategy, which will be overseen by the Environment Commission, will be published later this year.

The strategy will provide a framework of actions that will transform Greater Manchester to become a low carbon economy and reduce CO2 emissions by 30-50% by 2020.

Written by a team of stakeholders, including officers from several commissions and all of the districts, the strategy will share knowledge and practice from much of the good work already happening across our city.

A draft of strategy will be open for consultation in late May and early June. This will provide opportunities to contribute to the final document at workshops taking place in each of the ten districts.

For further information on the Environment Commission visit:

http://www.agma.gov.uk/commissions1/environment_commission/index.html

LOVE SHOULDN’T HURT

In February a joint campaign featuring giant Valentine’s Day cards bearing the message: “Love Shouldn’t Hurt This Valentine’s Day” successfully attracted local and national media coverage. Cards were produced in each Greater Manchester borough, signed by both members of the public and professionals involved in community safety and domestic abuse. This campaign is a testament to what can be achieved through joint working and also offered a further opportunity to signpost the Greater Manchester Domestic Abuse Helpline (0161 636 7525) and the End the Fear domestic abuse website.

PREDICTING CRIME

We’re focusing on developing new tools to predict and therefore improve responses to crime across Greater Manchester. We already have a consistent approach to tackling areas where lots of burglaries and car crimes happen and the next stage is to trial best practice from the Home Office. Trafford Community Safety Team is currently piloting a new approach to predictive crime analysis and so far the results are encouraging. Guidance material and a case study report have been circulated to all partners.

GETTING OFFENDERS INTO WORK

Ex-offenders are amongst the most difficult to place in or return to employment. The PPC has made it a priority to communicate with and develop relationships with potential contractors throughout the private sector that are involved with the welfare-to-work reforms laid out by central government. A prospectus of service providers has been produced so that potential contractors can fully understand the offender management picture in Greater Manchester and the best way to achieve results.

TRANSFORMING JUSTICE

Greater Manchester will pilot a ‘rehabilitation revolution’  scheme that aims to reduce re-offending. The main requirement of the pilot is to work with and focus on complex families and specific groupings of offenders. We’ve already evaluated local good practice so we know what works at this level and we’re learning from other areas around the country. The pilot will be formally launched on 1 April.

For further information on the Public Protection Commission visit:

REVIEW

In light of the debate on specific cuts in public services a leadership team, chaired by Janet Callender, Chief Executive of Trafford Council, has undertaken a review of its Improvement and Efficiency agenda.

The team have identified 10 themes which have been prioritised into two tiers based upon areas of high spend and also the speed at which collaboration can take place. 

This tier two activity will continue to be progressed and monitored through the leadership team.

To find out more about this work visit: