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Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA)
Comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) is about helping local councils to improve local services for their communities.
The Government introduced CPA as part of its drive to modernise local government. Each council is measured on how well it is performing and receives an overall judgement from the Audit Commission of where it stands. There are five assessment categories – excellent, good, fair, weak and poor.
The assessment process looks at performance from various perspectives, which provides a more complete picture and better understanding of where councils should focus activities to secure improvement.
The CPA judgement provides the basis for:
- Local people to better understand how a council is performing.
- The development of an action plan, focused on improving local services for local people.
- Increased freedom and flexibility for top performing councils.
- Consistent and positive action in councils that are not performing effectively.
Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) Peer Review
In preparation for our CPA the council organised an accredited peer challenge by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA). The Audit Commission positively encouraged this approach. The outcome of this review assisted the council in preparing our CPA self-assessment reports.
The review took place between 19 – 23 May 2003 and the IDeA produced a report detailing the council’s strengths and areas for improvement. IDeA Peer Review
Twenty improvement recommendations were developed and these formed the basis of our peer review improvement plan. IDeA Peer Review Improvement Plan
Self-Assessment
As part of the full assessment the council had to submit a number of self-assessment reports to the Audit Commission, prior to the on-site inspection. These documents formed the basis of our CPA. CPA Self-Assessment Reports
Audit Commission On-Site Inspection
The Audit Commission visited North Hertfordshire District Council between 19 – 23 January 2004 to conduct its on-site assessment. The Audit Commission team tested the information the council had provided in our self-assessment reports.
CPA Outcome
In May 2004 the Audit Commission published its final report categorising North Hertfordshire District Council as a ‘fair council which is improving’. It awarded the council 41 points out of a possible 60. The Audit Commission report and the council’s summary are available by clicking on the following links
CPA Inspection Report
CPA Inspection Report – NHDC Summary .
CPA Improvement Plan
Specific improvement objectives and activities were identified and an organisation wide improvement plan was developed to ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible services to our communities. This plan incorporated the outstanding recommendations and actions from the earlier IDeA peer review improvement plan.
This consolidated improvement plan is rigorously reviewed and monitored using a structured project management methodology. 22 strategic actions form the basis of the plan; each one being divided into specific time-based tasks with allocated responsibilities. This approach ensures the detailed tracking of each task towards the completion of all the strategic improvement actions.
Progress of the improvement plan is monitored regularly by our Corporate Management Team and the Performance, Audit and Review Committee (PARC). Completion of the plan, along with further improvement activities that we undertake, should ensure that the council’s categorisation improves in future comprehensive performance assessments.
The Way Ahead
In September 2005 the Audit Commission launched its consultation with district councils on proposals for a new CPA framework. It published the new framework for district councils in July 2006.
This framework delivers a harder test, resulting in authorities having to perform better to retain their existing CPA categorisation. More emphasis is placed on outcomes for local people and service users and on value for money. Unlike in the past, there will be no requirement for all district councils to be re-assessed at regular intervals. Re-assessment will take place in two situations:
- if a council's performance is deteriorating significantly, re-assessment will be compulsory, or
- if a council's performance has improved significantly, they can request re-categorisation.
Comments
If you have any comments regarding the CPA process please contact the Performance Team on 01462 474659 or email service@north-herts.gov.uk.