5.1 Multi Area Agreement

5.1.1 We have submitted to Government a proposal for a Multi Area Agreement, in addition to the Local Area Agreements of each local authority. The starting point for the MAA is that current powers and governance arrangements will not enable us to deliver stretched performance and we will therefore be unable to meet our own, and Government’s ambitions.

5.1.2 Despite the recent economic growth in the city region,  economic output per person remains below the national average and the area has significant issues of worklessness, skills, unemployment, literacy and numeracy.  These issues will need to be tackled in order to achieve the higher levels of growth to which we aspire. They will gain even greater significance if the economic slowdown proves severe.

5.1.3 Taken together, the building blocks set out in the MAA are designed to bring significant gains in terms of Manchester’s economic performance and thereby improve not only the quality of life of individuals but also contribute towards building safer, stronger and more prosperous communities. The eight ‘building blocks' are:

  • The Greater Manchester Strategic Plan
  • Reducing Worklessness
  • Strengthening Our Skills Offer
  • Achieving more for 14-19 year olds
  • Accelerating Business Expansion to Generate Growth
  • Enhancing Investment and Innovation
  • Ensuring the City Region’s Critical Infrastructure will sustain our Economic Growth
  • Meeting the Housing Needs of a Competitive City Region

5.1.4 Transport has a key role to play in the MAA, since the high degree of national and international connectivity afforded by Manchester Airport and the rail/road network is seen as one of the key drivers for growth in the city region. The LTP7 congestion target has therefore been incorporated as one of the MAA targets. Transport will also contribute to the achievement of other targets related to getting people into work or education.

5.1.5 Our proposals for additional investment, via TIF,  in delivering the integrated transport strategy provides a potential mechanism to tackle congestion and improve connectivity between the communities of Greater Manchester and the employment hot-spots, particularly the regional centre.