State of the South West 2008

Measuring Performance of Local Authorities

12.25 Local authority performance is currently subject to a Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) by the Audit Commission. This looks at performance from a range of perspectives, and combines a set of judgements to provide an overall rating. Since 2002, there has been an annual reporting of scores and analysis for all English county and unitary authorities.

12.26 In 2005, the Audit Commission introduced a new framework for CPAs for these authorities, designed to provide a harder test. The framework for this comprises annual assessments of service performance, use of resources and direction of travel, and periodic (once every three years) corporate assessments measuring how effectively the council is working to improve services. These are combined to give one of five CPA scores (0 to 4 stars), and one of four directions of travel (improving strongly, improving well, improving adequately, or not improving adequately).

12.27 As at February 2008, none of the 16 South West county councils and unitary authorities held either of the two lowest ratings of the five CPA categories (0 or 1 stars). There are five 2 star ratings and seven 3 star ratings, while three authorities in the region (Gloucestershire, Poole and Somerset) have the highest 4 star rating. The Isles of Scilly Council is exempt from a star rating.

12.28 All but two South West authorities are assessed as being in the middle two directions of travel (nine are improving well; six are improving adequately). The exceptions are Somerset and Swindon, which are both judged to be improving strongly.

12.29 The next annual reporting of counties and unitary authorities is due in February 2009, but overall assessments can change in the course of the year, for example, as a result of an Audit Commission corporate assessment.

12.30 District councils were reviewed in county groups from June 2003 to early autumn 2004, with a CPA category being published for each. In July 2006, the Commission confirmed the process by which councils could be re-categorised through a corporate assessment. This only takes place where a council requests it and is able to demonstrate significant evidence of improvement, or where the Commission identifies evidence of significant deterioration.

12.31 Each authority has received one of five overall ratings. Among the region’s 35 district councils, four have been rated as 'excellent' (Exeter, North Cornwall, South Hams and Taunton Deane), twelve were rated 'good', thirteen 'fair', five 'weak' and only one (Torridge) was rated as ‘poor’.

12.32 From April 2009, Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) will replace CPA. This will result in a change in focus of the assessment regime. While CPA focused on services provided by local authorities, CAA will look at the public services in an area delivered by councils’ partners, including the private and voluntary sectors, as well as by the council itself.

12.33 CAA will be a system based on a combination of risk assessment, largely risk-triggered inspection, and audit. It aims to provide assurance about how well-run local public services are and how effectively they use taxpayers’ money. But its purpose is also to be more relevant to local people by focusing on issues that are important to their community.  It aims to develop a shared view about the challenges facing an area and to create a more joined up and proportionate approach to public service regulation.

12.34 For more information on Comprehensive Performance Assessment and Comprehensive Area Assessment, see the Audit Commission CPA and CAA webpages.