Councils across England choose their 'local priorities' » Communities » 24dash.com

The results of a comprehensive shake up of council targets and priorities have been published today for every region across England.

Helping troubled teenagers will be a prime focus for local areas in Greater Manchester over the next three years - from tackling teenage pregnancy to reducing the numbers of young people who are outside education and jobs.

Reducing the rate of teenage pregnancy has been identified as a key priority by all local authorities in Greater Manchester. The need to reduce the numbers of 16-18 year olds who have left education but remain out of work is also a key focus.  Another major issue identified as requiring particular effort is tackling burglary.

Every local area in England has now agreed its own set of priorities with central government and must devote resources, time and effort to tackling the challenges that will improve the lives of local people in their areas. Extra cash will be available to the highest performing councils.

Other regional priorities include:

• East Midlands - sport and recreation
• South Coast - crime
• Merseyside - health and worklessness
• South East - affordable homes
• West Midlands - childhood obesity

Called Local Area Agreements (LAAs) - local authorities have worked with local service providers such as the Police and Jobcentre Plus to identify key priorities individual to each area.

Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP, Regional Minister for the North West said: "As Minister for the North West and Minister for Children, Young People and Families it is heartening to see the focus across our region addressing the needs of young people.

"It's vital that the barriers to success - teenage pregnancy, dropping out of school, alcoholic abuse, and obesity - are tackled so that all our young people can reach their potential, and help to make our region world class.

"With so many Local Authorities identifying these issues as priorities means we can expect to see real progress, improving the lives and the prospects for many of our teenagers."

Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: "These new local priorities mean that councils and their partners can concentrate their efforts on the specific needs of the local people they serve.

"The prizes are enormous: better, more locally relevant public services, a higher quality of life and ultimately more prosperity in communities across the country.

"If knowledge is power, then this is more power to local people. They will be able to see exactly what local government and service providers plan to do in their area, check out how well they are doing, and ask questions if they have not delivered.

"This means less red tape and more freedom for local authorities to deliver what local people want."

Progress will be tracked by independent auditors and results published, so any need for improvement can be identified quickly and local authorities and service providers be held to account by local people.