03 March 2006
The Local Government Association is pushing for a better replacement for the Comprehensive Performance Assessments for councils.
At an event hosted with the Improvement and Development Agency in Gateshead this week, the LGA outlined a new framework for measuring performance.
It would include an annual assessment — conducted by councils and partners — to ensure national minimum standards are met and areas for improvement identified.
The LGA stressed that councils could learn lessons from business in providing improved services and better value for money.
Sir Simon Milton, the LGA's improvement spokesman, said: 'The [CPA] system is past its sell-by date. Its focus is on assessment rather than improvement, and encourages compliance rather than innovation. The ultimate measure of how a council is performing is how people think it is.'
Lucy de Groot, the IDA's executive director, said: 'We want a system that provides the public with an accurate picture of the quality and value for money of local council services.'
PFmar2006
