This is a key element of the Government’s performance framework for local government. It forms part of a national programme to review the performance of local authorities and to make recommendations for change. It is intended to support local authorities in planning service delivery and performance improvement and looks at three questions:
- What is the Council together with its partners trying to achieve?
- What is the capacity of the Council and its partners to deliver these achievements?
- What has been achieved?
Lewisham has officially been declared as a four star authority that is 'performing strongly'.
The CPA process
The CPA is made up of three elements:
- service assessments
- use of resources
- corporate assessment.
More detailed information and comparative performance is available on the Audit Commission site.
Joint Area Review
In parallel to the CPA, this is a single assessment of all services provided by the council and its partners to children and young people within a local area.
It examines the leadership and management of these services and the way they work together to support children and young people to:
- stay safe
- be healthy
- enjoy and achieve
- make a positive contribution
- achieve economic well-being.
These are the five ‘Outcomes for children’ set out in a national programme being driven by the government, called Every Child Matters.