Local Area Agreement
LAAs need a simple application to administer projects.
The ODPM says about this:
“The ultimate aim is a real-time, transparent and robust monitoring system that
will provide all partners with access to information that will allow them to
review and manage progress and performance across the LAA at any given point in
time.”
This is the role played by www.theFundingProject.com.
The system was originally built for use by Government Offices, but the job the
Government Office used to do is now being taken over at LAA level.
Although originally designed for use with projects in the Stronger Safer
Communities Fund, the system will work well for the other fund streams as well.
We are finding that LAA authorities are already using it for managing their LAA
SSCF funds, and now asking about other fund streams.
Performance management?
Traditional performance management systems allow for sophisticated recording
and mapping of many different types of indicator. They are mainly designed for
use at a fairly high level, in the Chief Executives office.
Our approach is different. We work at the operational level. We want the people
running the projects to put information directly into the system. This includes
the analysis of problems, definitions of solutions and funding, as well as
links to indicators.
This has huge benefits:
-
Paperless: all data goes straight into the system, there is no re-typing.
-
Visibility and Data Sharing: everyone involved in the process can see the
information, from the project workers to the monitoring committee to the LAA
managers.
-
Accountability: Partnership managers can see if analysis or monitoring data is
not complete. This nurtures a culture of accountability. People feel more
responsible for entering their own monitoring information.
-
Completeness: We have one system with all the information needed to answer
future questions.
But - The system has to be so simple that everyone will use
it. This is what we have achieved.
|