Comprehensive Performance Assessment
The Audit Commission awards every council a rating based on a score for how well they are delivering services and how well the organisation is run. We currently have three stars (out of a possible four) and are classed as “improving adequately”.
Service Delivery
Our service scores are determined by inspections (e.g. Ofsted inspects parts of Children’s Services), assessments of our statutory plans, and our performance in a range of performance indicators. In February 2008, our services scored (out of four):
- Children & young people: 2
- Social care (adults): 3
- Environment: 4
- Culture: 4
Council Ability
The Council is also judged on how well it functions as an organisation. This is broken down into Use of Resources (annual) and Corporate Assessment (every three years). The Corporate Assessment looks at the Council’s ambition, prioritisation, capacity, performance management and achievement. In December 2007, the Council scored (out of four):
- Use of Resources: 3
- Corporate Assessment: 3
Rate of Improvement
The Audit Commission also considers it helpful to assess not only how well a council is performing (the star rating) but also to make a judgement about its rate of improvement. In February 2008, the Council was judged to be “improving adequately”.
CPA Reports
The 2007/08 CPA reports for the Council are:
The Council has published a response [WORD 84KB] to the 2008 Corporate Assessment, which details actions to address the areas for development in the Audit Commission's report.
Corporate Peer Review
In October 2007, the Improvement and Development Agency (I&DeA) visited the Council in order to undertake a peer review.
Their findings [PDF 154KB] make eleven key recommendations, which are intended help to improve the way the Council functions. The Council's response [WORD 66KB] to the peer review outlines the steps it will take to address the I&DeA's recommendations.
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