LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENT

In May 2002, Derby City Council pledged to deliver extra improvements in key services to local people, with the promise of an extra £5.4 million from the government if it meets its targets. Arts Minister Baroness Blackstone visited Derby to sign on behalf of the government a Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) - a package of performance targets in a range of services. The Agreement will lead to easing of red tape and provide financial incentives to help the council deliver measurable improvements in services over the next three years. The agreement was also signed by Derby City Council leader Chris Williamson and Chief Executive Ray Cowlishaw. As part of its local PSA, Derby City Council is setting out to:

l Promote independence, and provide protection by improving skills of young people leaving care, helping more older people remain in their own homes and finding adoptive families for more children.

l Encourage prosperity for all by increasing benefit take-up in a deprived area of the city.

l Build safer communities by reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on Derby's roads.

l Improve its cost effectiveness by at least 2 per cent.

l Make Derby a great place to live by increasing recycling, composting, faster removal of abandoned vehicles and increasing the proportion of new homes built on previously developed land.

l Tackle under achievement in 20 target schools, increasing school attendance, increasing visits to libraries in disadvantaged areas of the city and introducing a new mobile library.

The council will receive a performance reward grant of £5.4 million if it meets or exceeds all its targets. In addition, just under £1 million of 'pump-priming' grants - along with the council's own resources - will support various projects involved in the target areas. Chris Williamson, Leader of Derby City Council said, "Derby's Local Public Service Agreement gives us an opportunity to demonstrate our ability to innovate and improve services to local people. PSAs are an excellent vehicle for local and national government to work more effectively together."