What we did
We introduced Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) in 2002 as a way of supporting councils to deliver improvements in services to local people. CPA measured how well councils were delivering services for local people and communities while reducing the regulatory burden on them. As part of CPA we introduced corporate assessments and councils undertook their own self assessments. It brought together a wide range of information and judgements about councils into one simply understood rating ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘fair’, ‘weak’ or ‘poor’.
CPA ratings were used by councils to focus their own improvement planning. They were also used to help the government identify where targeted support and recovery planning were needed in order to protect vital services to local communities. Government also granted freedoms and flexibilities to high performing councils. Over the time we implemented CPA council services improved significantly and CPA is acknowledged to be one of the catalysts for this. CPA evolved in response to improving performance of local government, rising public expectations and changes in the operational and regulatory environment.
We introduced a CPA framework for single tier and county councils in 2002 and for district councils in 2003. A CPA framework for fire and rescue services was introduced in 2005. We also introduced a revised framework for single tier and county councils known as CPA – The Harder Test in 2005.
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