Comprehensive Performance Assessment

CHESTER CITY COUNCIL RATED AN 'EXCELLENT' COUNCIL

Chester City Council overall is 'excellent', according to a major report from the Audit Commission.

Chester CC was among a number of authorities inspected in Cheshire as part of the comprehensive performance assessment ( CPA ) of district councils which rates each as either excellent, good, fair, weak or poor

CPA is the first time that people have had a single overall assessment on their council. Reporting for the 238 district councils in England follows the 2002 CPA carried out for the 150 larger all purpose and county councils.

The assessment of Chester City Council found that the council is doing well in most areas:

• The council performs well in key services such as housing, local taxes, waste collection and recycling, and public satisfaction is high
• It has strong, long-term focus on key areas of housing, economic development, tourism and the environment.
• It provides strong community leadership and works well in partnership with other organisations
• The council's capacity is boosted by its partnership working and successful bidding for external funding.
• It has robust plans for the future, supported by extensive consultation and research.
• Its finances are well managed

But the assessment also found room for improvement:

• The council has not fully reflected the diversity of the district in all its plans, particularly for young people and minority ethnic groups.
• It has not ensured that its ambitions and priorities are effectively communicated to all parts of the Chester community.

Following today's report Chester City Council will plan what it needs to do to maintain and improve its performance, with support where necessary from the Audit Commission.

Audit Commission senior manager Brian Stevenson said: "Chester City Council is providing very good services and is using partnerships effectively. But it needs to ensure that it focuses on all parts of the community in the delivery of its plans. Residents of Chester will want to know what happens next. Where the council has weaknesses it should use this assessment to help it deliver improvement. We would expect the council to make its improvement plans public. We will want to track progress. The end result should be better services for the people of Chester."

Audit Commission Chairman James Strachan said: "Comprehensive Performance Assessment is Strategic Regulation. It reduces red tape and is aimed at helping improve public services. Not only is this the first comprehensive report to the public on how well councils are run - it also provides a powerful tool to make services better. The findings we have published today will form the basis for future improvement plans. The Commission will help by focusing its attention where it is necessary and most productive. The council will get maximum support without unnecessary bureaucracy."

A summary and full report for Chester City Council is available from the council, and through the Audit Commission website (external link), or by downloading the Chester CPA Summary  (379KB)

In November 2004 the council received the annual audit letter from the Audit Commission. The letter said of Chester "The council has built on its excellent Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) rating becoming a source of good practice for other authorities.."

Download the full Annual Audit Letter  (83KB)

 

In September 2005 the council produced its annual Value For Money self assessment. Download the Value For Money self assessment  (79KB)