Star performers

8 Feb 08
MIKE THATCHER | For Liverpool City Council, it was ‘grossly unfair’. But for the majority of unitary and county councils, this week’s Comprehensive Performance Assessments were something to celebrate.

For Liverpool City Council, it was ‘grossly unfair’. But for the majority of unitary and county councils, this week’s Comprehensive Performance Assessments were something to celebrate.

According to the Audit Commission’s annual review of council performance, four out of five authorities are now rated either three-star or four-star. And three out of four are improving, either ‘well’ or ‘strongly’.

Special mention should go to Lambeth, which soared two categories from one to three stars and is still improving strongly. There were plenty of other high-flyers too – 13 councils achieved the accolade of four stars and an ‘improving strongly’ judgement.

And this has been achieved under a programme dubbed the ‘harder test’ by the commission for good reason. Councils are simply performing better, in terms of service delivery and use of resources, against much tougher criteria.

Of course, there’s always a catch and, as we pointed out last week, this is in the financial reporting theme. The number of councils not meeting minimum requirements here has more than doubled, from five to 13.

But this should not detract from an overall outcome that bears comparison with any other part of the public services. Central government will be particularly envious, given the often dismal performance highlighted by Departmental Capability Reviews.

Even local government minister John Healey managed some words of praise – saying that the results give lie to the charge that people are getting less from their council – before demanding even more efficiency savings.

As local government’s efficiency efforts are thought to be the best across the public services, this was a less-than-generous response. The Local Government Association already estimates that authorities are making savings of £100m a month.

Perhaps central government should concentrate on putting its own house in order. As LGA chair Sir Simon Milton points out in this week’s issue of PF (Highly charged questions), surely it’s time for ministers to make good their promises to cut back on central interference and over-regulation.

Councils are delivering on their side of the bargain, why can’t Whitehall do likewise?

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