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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%.
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."
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