A multi-area agreement was an English political framework that aimed to encourage cross boundary partnership working at the regional and sub-regional levels.[1] They were defined by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) as voluntary agreements between two or more top tier (county councils or metropolitan district councils) or unitary local authorities, their partners and the government to work collectively to improve local economic prosperity.[2]
There are currently fifteen signed off multi-area agreements in England:[3][4] However, these are due to be folded into the new Local Enterprise Partnerships preferred by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government [1].
| MAA name | Local authorities | Established |
|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole | Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset: Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, Weymouth, Portland | July 2008 |
| Greater Manchester | Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan | July 2008 |
| Leeds City Region | Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield, York, North Yorkshire: Selby, Craven, Harrogate | July 2008 |
| Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) | Portsmouth, Southampton, Hampshire: East Hampshire, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, New Forest, Test Valley, Winchester | July 2008 |
| South Yorkshire | Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley | July 2008 |
| Tees Valley | Darlington, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees | July 2008 |
| Tyne and Wear | Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Durham, Northumberland | July 2008 |
| Leicester and Leicestershire | Leicester, Leicestershire: Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire, Oadby and Wigston | January 2009 |
| Liverpool City Region | Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral | January 2009 |
| Pennine Lancashire | Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire: Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley, Rossendale | January 2009 |
| Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country City Region | Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton | September 2009 |
| North Kent | Medway, Kent: Gravesham, Swale, Dartford | September 2009 |
| West of England Partnership | Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire | September 2009 |
| Fylde Coast | Blackpool, Lancashire: Fylde, Wyre | October 2009 |
| Olympic Boroughs | Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest | March 2010 |
Additionally there were five areas who were in negotiations with DCLG regarding the development of an MAA:[3]