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CPA Frequently Asked Questions

What is Comprehensive Performance Assessment?
Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) is about helping local councils in England improve local services for their communities.

Where did CPA come from?
The Government introduced CPAs in 2002 as a new way of measuring and rating how local authorities deliver their services.

How does CPA differ from other assessments?
Instead of solely looking at specific areas of performance, CPA brings together judgements about all aspects of a council's work to produce an overall assessment of its performance and potential for improvement.

What key areas does the CPA assess?
The CPA process looks at three key aspects of performance:

  • A Corporate Assessment - an on-site inspection every three years of the overall management of a council and partnership working
  • Service Delivery - an annual assessment of the performance of the main front-line services
  • Use of Resources - an annual assessment of how effectively budgets are managed and assets are used to deliver priorities

How are councils 'graded'?
Scores for each of the three aspects are brought together each to provide an overall performance category - 4 (highest), 3, 2, 1 or 0 (lowest). A second test called a 'Direction of Travel' judgment has been introduced. This measures how well a council is improving. Both of these scores are normally announced in December each year.

Who is responsible for producing the CPA judgements?
The Audit Commission is an independent body responsible for ensuring that public money is used economically, efficiently and effectively. The Audit Commission is responsible for producing the overall CPA judgements (0-4 stars). In addition the Audit Commission add one of four 'Direction of Travel' labels to each council's CPA judgement:

  • Improving strongly
  • Improving well
  • Improving adequately
  • Not improving adequately
  • Not improving

What is Rotherham Council's current CPA score? 
For 2007 Rotherham was awarded a rating of 4 stars and an 'Improving Well' Direction of Travel label. The score achieved for the Corporate Assessment in June 2006 is being used to inform the Council's CPA score for the following three years.

Why is CPA important to Rotherham Council?

  • It allows the general public to judge how well the Council is performing compared to others
  • It allows external inspectors to see just how well the Council is progressing as an organisation
  • It provides an opportunity for the Council to drive forward to the delivery of the improvements it has already identified
  • A successful CPA can further enhance the reputation of the Council and borough
  • High performing councils are given greater flexibilities and freedoms, eg less inspections and monitoring by external inspection agencies
  • A successful CPA can improve the morale of staff and councillors
  • A successful CPA can help improve the recruitment and retention of staff

What does the Corporate Assessment look at?
There are five assessment themes:

  • Ambition
  • Prioritisation
  • Capacity
  • Performance management
  • Achievement

Within the "Achievement" theme there are five sub-themes:

  • Sustainable communities and transport
  • Safer and stronger communities
  • Healthier communities
  • Older people
  • Children and young people.

What does the Corporate Assessment process involve?
 
Phase 1 - Self assessment
The Council has to submit a self-assessment of its strengths, weaknesses and achievements against a set of questions provided by the Audit Commission.

Phase 2 - On site inspection
An inspection team will visit the Council to verify claims made in the self-assessment. As part of this they will interview a selection of staff, councillors, residents, partners and community representatives. Inspection teams are normally made up of representatives from the Audit Commission Inspection Service, and peer councillors and officers from other councils.

Phase 3 - Report
The Council will receive a report from the Audit Commission setting out their findings and recommendations. This will impact on the Council's overall CPA score.

Phase 4 - Improvement Plan
The Council will need to ensure it addresses the areas for improvement identified in the Corporate Assessment report and monitors progress through its performance management framework.