The intended aim of the CAA is to meet the audit needs of the new Local Area Agreements (LAA) which require partnership working across groups of local authorities within an area. The CAA will join up the work of the seven inspecting bodies to maximise information sharing and minimise disruption to local authorities.

The CAA report will be a combination of an Area Assessment (looking at the area’s Councils, Fire, Police and PCT) and an Organisational Assessment. As part of this, a Place Survey will be carried out every other year which will ask for residents opinions about the place that they live.

The Area Assessment is not scored but flags will be attached to areas not being addressed adequately (red flag) and those that are innovative and a showcase for other areas (green flag). National Indicators (NIs) will form some of the shared evidence for this. It may include a site inspection of the local area. It will focus on the LAAs locally identified priorities and how well they are being met.

The Organisational Assessment has a number of parts. There is are assessments of how well we govern the business and manage our resources and finances and how well we manage performance (joint Inspectorate assessment). These will be scored on a 1 (poor) – 4 (excellent) basis.

The idea is that the Audit Commission will have a ‘year long’ conversation with the Council about what it is doing with a forward-looking focus. This should replace the intensive inspection process of CPA that looked at past performance. They want to use information from reports and strategies already in existence rather than the Council having to write huge reports and assessments.

The reports will be available to the public and local authorities via a dedicated website. There will be online options to compare areas, check flags and read a narrative of the area and individual local authorities.

• A catalyst for better local outcomes, better partnership working, more responsive services and better value for money
• A source of information and independent assurance for citizens, service users and taxpayers
• An independent evidence base for central government on progress against national priorities
• A means of rationalising and coordinating inspection.

• It reflects the new central local relationship (LAAs, National Indicator Set etc.)
• Reinforces local partners’ accountability for contributing to improved outcomes
• Builds on better performance of local government and increasing capacity for sector self-improvement
• Addresses the apparent gap between assessed performance and citizen perceptions
• Less inspection, used more intelligently
• Joined-up assessment for joined-up local services.

• How well do local priorities express community needs and aspirations?
• How well are the outcomes and improvements needed being delivered?
• What are the prospects for future improvement?
Focused on priority outcomes from LAA and sustainable community strategies (SCS), as well as vulnerable groups.

• How safe is this area?
• How healthy and well supported are people?
• How well kept is the area?
• How environmentally sustainable is the area?
• How strong is the local economy?
• How strong and cohesive are local communities?
• How well is inequality being addressed?
• How well is housing need met?
• How well are families supported?
• How good is the well-being of children and young people?

• Managing performance: How well is the organisation delivering sustainable improvements in its priority services and outcomes that are important to local people? Does it have the leadership, capacity and capability it needs to deliver future improvements?
• Managing finances: How effectively does the organisation manage its finances to deliver value for money?
• Governing the business: How well does the organisation govern itself and commission services that provide value for money and deliver better outcomes for local people?
• Managing resources: How well does the organisation manage its natural resources, physical assets and people to meet current and future needs and deliver value for money?

• Annual reporting (November), but judgments may be updated more frequently
• CAA website with clickable maps, postcode entry
• Will include reporting of National Indicator Set, allowing tailored comparisons
• Area assessment: Narrative, red flags where action needed to deliver priority improvements, green flags for exceptionally good prospects/promising innovation
• Assessments for each public body: links to assessments of councils, PCTs, schools, police, fire…

So what will inspectorates be looking for?

• great engagement with and knowledge of your communities
• ambitious shared vision for your place
• productive relationships across public, private and third sectors
• self-awareness & effective performance management
• innovation and well-managed risk-taking
• and above all - sustainable improvements in citizen satisfaction, priority outcomes and value for money.

You can access previous Best Value and CPA Reports on this website.

Further information

You can contact the Research, Consultation & Information Analyst on 01372 732000 or
email contactus@epsom-ewell.gov.uk