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LAA Solutions

pixelfountain is working with clients to help them with local area agreements by utilising it's innovative learning approach using learning-simulations which have many benefits.

Planit-LAA
West Cumbria

The Need / Rationale

Delivering Local Area Agreements (LAAs) means building on the Sustainable Community Strategy and bringing together an effective partnership to deliver outcomes.

What is a Local Area Agreement?

•
A Local Area Agreement is a 3 year agreement between Government and the Local Authority and other key partners through Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs).

• The primary objective of an LAA is to deliver genuinely sustainable communities.

• The priorities are developed with partners, and agreed by Government Office.

Essential elements:

	•	Right vision and structure
	•	Team work – clear roles and joint working arrangements
	•	Outcome focused – Sustainable Communities

The Solution: Planit-LAA

Planit-LAA has been rolled out in a programme of six workshops in West Cumbria. It has also been used in a programme in the East Midlands (commissioned by East Midlands Regional Assembly and Government Office for the East Midlands).

Planit-LAA
West Cumbria

Planit-LAA is a new version of Planit-sustainability learning-simulation (serious game), designed and developed by pixelfountain it considers the ‘real’ issues involved in designing and delivering Local Area Agreements.

The learning-simulation is delivered in a workshop with other non-computer based activities. The delegates are divided into teams, that are responsible for the priorities, strategies and procurement decisions. They work together to meet the outcomes of the LAA in a virtual world.

Following an introduction the Presentation describes what an LAA is and how we will simulate it.

The delegates work in 4 groups to choose their LAA outcomes. The outcomes are then entered into the simulation to generate a dynamic score screen, on which they are judged.

Delegates are split into 8 teams which represent the partnership who will deliver the LAA. The Simulation is then played over 4 rounds.

The delegates then consider what LAA means to them, by looking at Key Actions, Barriers and Solutions.

“ Raised awareness of dialogue between agencies, joined up thinking"

Purpose

Setting the tone for the work of the partnership:

	•	Placing sustainable development at the heart of the LAA
	•	Encouraging joint working with clear rolesfor partners

Providing an understanding of the core themes:

	•	Understanding of the inter connections between issues and parts of the community (e.g solving health and crime issues)
	•	Using an outcome focussed ‘exercise’ that links directly to the ‘real’ task of setting clear and achievable outcomes and indicators

Creating interest and enthusiasm for the work of the LAA:

	•	Building relationships and trust between partners
	•	Providing a creative and open forum

Key Objectives & Messages

	•	Improve the development and implementation of LAAs
	•	Increase the real world understanding of sustainable development
	•	Strengthen partnership working
	•	Improve mainstreaming of local, regional and national sustainable development agenda
	•	Improve generic (Egan) skills

The Solution: Regen-IT

Liverpool Partnership Group contacted pixelfountain to help them deliver an engagement programme as part of the development of the Local Area Agreement.

During October 2006, 100 delegates played the Regen-IT learning-simulation in 6 very enjoyable workshops. After an initial presentation on Local Area Agreements, the delegates were split into 6 sub teams to play Regen-IT.

Regen-IT Liverpool Partnership Group

Alongside the learning-simulation, the facilitators captured the delegates’ thoughts about their real neighbourhoods. The virtual experience allowed the delegates to see the big picture and put forward practical and joined-up solutions.

The audience

	•	Local partnerships (initial set up of LAA or interim progress checks)
	•	Thematic groups (outcome and indicator setting)
	•	Neighbourhood groups
	•	Community consultation
	•	Government Office internal staff training