Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA)
What is CPA?
CPA is a Government initiative in which the Audit Commission assesses every Council's capacity to deliver an improvement in the services it provides.
A baseline assessment is carried out and looks at leadership, finance and general management arrangements.
After the inspection in February 2004. the Council will be scored on the following scale, Excellent, Good, Fair, Weak or Poor. Following this an improvement plan will be agreed to ensure that as a Council we continue to improve.
Why does it matter?
Excellent and Good Councils are subject to fewer inspections and are not required to produce as many strategies and reports.
Inspection
The first part of the CPA process for North Dorset took place during October 2003. The Council had to produce an assessment of its current position. A group of Officers and Members from other councils then visited the Council. Their report is available here.
An action plan for improvement was developed in co-operation with the Audit Commission. This plan is the building blocks for future improvements. The Council has now amended its self-assessment in light of comments by reviewers - you can see the final version here.
Inspection Results
North Dorset District Council is celebrating an outstanding achievement following an inspection by the Audit Commission: it has been judged as ‘good’.
The commission carried out a Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) of the Council in July and announced the results on 6 November 2007. The result is outstanding because the Council has jumped two steps up the CPA ladder from ‘weak’ to ‘good’. Only a handful of other councils across the country have matched this performance. Another four points would have seen the Council classified as ‘excellent’.
Liz Goodall, Chief Executive, said: “I am particularly proud of the employees whom the inspectors described as: ‘feeling well supported, committed to delivering the Council’s objectives and demonstrating flexibility and innovation.’ We have been through difficult times together and it is only the superb team effort of councillors across all parties and employees working together that have achieved real results for North Dorset.”
 Read the Audit Commission’s report
Council Chairman, Col Mike Oliver, and employees celebrate on Gold Hill.
“This outstanding improvement in rating reflects the sustained efforts of many people both inside and outside of the Council. There is an increasing awareness of the value of working together for the joint benefit of all our communities and it is very satisfying to be part of this general improvement. We should not forget that, if anything, the challenges are rising. It will need continued concerted effort and engagement if we are to see our communities continue to progress and improve.”
- Cllr Peter Webb, Leader of North Dorset District Council
“It’s a stunning achievement and shows the result of sustained community leadership across the party political divide.”
- Cllr David Milsted, Leader of the Liberal Democrats
Further Information
Please contact the Research and Performance Policy Manager (01258) 484018.
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