Norfolk now has a strong new commitment to deliver on local priorities… such as healthier children, support for older people, a prosperous economy and safer, stronger communities.  It comes in the shape of Norfolk's first Local Area Agreement - a pioneering initiative designed to focus effort and resources on the things that matter most.

The LAA takes effect on 1 April this year and is the result of many different organisations joining forces to identify what needs to be done and plan how to make it happen.  If we deliver on our promises, the government has said it will lift some existing ''red tape'' to free-up local decision-making in the future.

The agreement includes benefits for whole communities, such as more affordable housing, better open spaces and less crime.  Others aim to support individuals by increasing their skills and job opportunities, improving health and extending independence.

This is the first edition of a regular electronic newsletter about the LAA and it has a lot of useful information for anyone who doesn't know much about the agreement.  Future editions will carry news about the progress of the agreement.  You can subscribe using the link on the right, to be sure of receiving all future editions as soon as they are published.  Pass the newsletter on to anyone you think might be interested and they can subscribe to get their own copy e-mailed direct in future.

All the detail about the LAA is available on the Norfolk Ambition website of the Norfolk County Strategic Partnership