CPA development
This page holds historical information about single tier and county council CPA methodologies and their development. Information about the current methodology can be viewed from CPA – the Harder Test framework for 2007.
CPA – the Harder Test framework for 2007 consultation
A consultation paper on the CPA – the harder test framework for single tier and county councils was published on 3 April 2007. It proposed a number of refinements to the 2007 framework as a result of post implementation reviews.
The consultation document included questions relating to CPA 2007 for the next round of national reporting which will be published in February 2008, and the transition from CPA to CAA in 2008/09. Very minor changes to CPA were proposed for 2007. A small number of changes were proposed to the Audit Commission service assessments, to further refine the housing and environment service assessment elements of the framework where necessary. For the transitional year, a number of substantial amendments are considered, including possible changes to service assessments for single-tier and county councils.
The transition from CPA to CAA (PDF, 210Kb)
This consultation document includes proposals for the CPA framework for 2007, the transition year 2008/09 and early thinking about CAA from 2009
For details of the annual service block assessments provided by other inspectorates please visit the relevant websites:
Development of CPA for 2006
The CPA framework for 2006
CPA – The Harder Test framework for single tier and county councils was initially introduced in 2005. There were no major changes in the overall approach which are outlined in the 2006 framework document. In summary:
- the annual reporting of scores was scheduled for February 2007 to allow for the inclusion of up-to-date user satisfaction data; and
- for the first time a fire service assessment was included in the single tier and county council scores for the 16 councils with responsibility for fire and rescue services.
The CPA framework for 2006 was published on 26 July 2006.
CPA - the Harder Test Framework for 2006 (PDF, 179kb)
Our analysis of the consultation responses
In July 2006, we published a report summarising the key messages arising from the consultation.
CPA – the Harder Test framework for 2006 - consultation analysis (PDF, 198Kb)
Proposals for consultation
Our proposals for the overall and service assessment frameworks were published on 26 April 2006.
CPA – the Harder Test framework for 2006 - consultation document (PDF, 135Kb)
The consultation included:
- a summary of the changes made to the use of resources assessment following the separate February 2006 consultation
- small number of proposed changes to the Audit Commission service assessments, to enable the continuing shift towards placing more reliance on performance information and to further refine other elements of the framework where necessary.
Details of proposals for the individual performance indicators and their treatment can be viewed below:
Weightings for service assessments
Weightings for service assessments (PDF, 165Kb)
Weightings for service assessments (Word, 452Kb)
Performance indicator set for service assessments
Performance indicator set for service assessments (PDF, 165Kb)
Performance indicator set for service assessments (Word, 452Kb)
Background information on the framework is given in the service assessment framework technical guide for CPA 2005 (see below) which sets out the detail of the methodology for the environment, housing and culture annual service assessment for 2005.
For details of the annual service block assessments provided by other inspectorates please visit the relevant websites:
Development of CPA for 2005
CPA - The Harder Test framework for 2005
CPA – The Harder Test launched a new approach to CPA for single tier and county councils with three elements of: annual service assessment; use of resources; and a periodic corporate assessment brought together to give a single category. The key changes included:
- renaming of the five overall categories;
- changes to the way we determine service assessment scores; and
- the introduction of a direction of travel assessment reported alongside the overall CPA category.
On 14 October 2005 we published the CPA – The Harder Test 2005 framework following extensive consultation with local government and other key stakeholders.
CPA - The Harder Test (PDF, 667Kb)
The document gives details of the CPA framework that was applied in 2005. It sets out the changes which made CPA a harder but fair test for councils and provides a more complete picture for service users and taxpayers.
We also published two further documents setting out the detail of the service assessment framework and the direction of travel assessments for CPA reporting in 2005.
The service assessment framework technical guide for CPA 2005 sets out the detail of the methodology for the environment, housing and culture annual service assessment for 2005.
The direction of travel assessment - guide for CPA 2005 sets out the detail of the methodology for the direction of travel assessments for 2005.
Both these documents were the subject of widespread consultation with
key stakeholders.
Summary of responses to the Service Assessment Framework consultation (June 2005)
Summary of responses to the Service Assessment Framework consultation (PDF, 131Kb)
Summary of responses to the Service Assessment Framework consultation (Word, 314Kb)
Summary of responses to the Direction of Travel Assessments consultations (June 2005)
Summary of responses to the Direction of Travel Assessments consultations (PDF, 76Kb)
Summary of responses to the Direction of Travel Assessments consultations (Word, 182Kb)
CPA – The Harder Test explained
CPA – The Harder Test explained (PDF, 146Kb) will lead you through the different elements of the new CPA framework for single tier and county councils.
Reporting the outcomes of CPA – The Harder Test
Reporting the outcomes of CPA – The Harder Test
(PDF, 313Kb) explains what, where, when and how we will be announcing
the scores.
CPA – The Harder Test quiz
CPA – The Harder Test quiz is an interactive multiple choice game that tests your understanding of the framework with ten key questions.
Development of earlier methodologies
A list of earlier CPA-related publications follows, chronicling the development of the methodology.
15 June 2005
CPA - The Harder Test - June 2005
CPA - The Harder Test gives details of the changes which make CPA a tougher test for councils with a stronger focus on service users and value for money.
15 June 2005
Service assessment frameworks - A consultation supporting CPA that sets out the principles for service assessment scoring from 2005, and the detail of the framework for 2005.
9 Dec 2004
Proposals for CPA from 2005
This document follows CPA - the new approach, consulting further on the CPA framework. Proposals include development of the corporate assessment methodology, the use of resources evaluation and the service assessment blocks.
An analysis of the responses to this consultation can be viewed at consultation analysis - summary report (Word, 168Kb) and a full list of organisations who responded can be viewed at consultation responses February 2005 (Word, 238Kb)
12 May 2004
CPA 2005 - the New Approach.
This document outlines the main responses to the CPA 2005 - the Way Ahead consultation and sets out the Commission's approach to CPA from 2005 in light of those responses.
15 January 2004
CPA 2005 - the Way Ahead
This consultation paper sets out the Commission's proposals for taking forward CPA from 2005 as a means of supporting improvement in local government.
30 June 2003
CPA - the way forward
This document sets out the approach we plan to adopt in light of the consultation responses we received from CPA – the next steps.
3 April 2003
CPA - the next steps
This paper sets out the Commission's proposals for taking forward CPA as part of the improvement agenda for local government. It takes into account lessons learnt from the first round of CPA in 2002 and views expressed by stakeholders in informal consultation carried out prior to the publication of this paper.
The final CPA assessment framework for
single tier and county councils, 2002 (PDF, 196Kb)
This document sets out the
framework the Audit Commission will be using for 2002. CPA is a developing process and
there will be further opportunities for local authorities and other key stakeholders to comment
on the framework to be used in subsequent years.
Technical manual
on the use of performance indicators in CPA, 2002 (PDF, 112Kb)
This manual explains how performance indicator (PI) data is processed to produce
scores for local authority services as part of the Comprehensive Performance
Assessment (CPA).
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