Contact : Jenny Heath, Ext 7402

1. Summary

1.1. This report outlines for Members the process currently under way to arrive at a Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) for Hampshire County Council.

2. Background

2.1. The Government's White Paper - "Strong Local Leadership - Quality Public Services" requires each local authority to undergo a comprehensive assessment to establish whether the authority will be categorised as:

_ High Performing

_ Striving

_ Coasting or

_ Failing

2.2. The classification applied will determine whether, at the top of these categories, additional flexibilities and freedoms are offered to authorities while, at the bottom, external intervention is a real possibility.

2.3. The process has four phases. First, the authority is given a month to produce its own self-assessment of its capacity to improve. Second, an external inspection team carries out two weeks of Corporate Inspection Fieldwork to evaluate the self-assessment. Thirdly, an assessment by different inspection teams of performance in different service areas is undertaken and finally, the Audit Commission analyses all this information and applies it to a mathematical model which results in all first tier authorities being classified in `winter 2002.'

2.4. Hampshire County Council were included in tranche 1 which imposed a very tight timetable on us to respond. The timetable is as follows:

2.5. This is clearly a very important activity for Hampshire County Council. Our classification, and any freedoms granted, will affect how we can deliver services to our community and how the authority's performance is viewed.

2.6. The self assessment has been completed and sent to the Audit Commission. Each Member of the Council has been sent a copy of the self-assessment which was approved by Cabinet. As the Leader stated in his covering letter to all Members the timescale imposed on the County Council, as a first tranche authority, effectively provided three weeks to prepare and agree a very complex document.

2.7. This timescale clearly did not allow any time for consultation. The Leader was, however, keen that this PRC should have an opportunity to examine the document and to consider the ongoing process as set out in paragraph 2.4 above. At the time of writing this report the external Corporate Assessment Team comprising of three Audit Commission/Best Value Inspectors plus one peer Member and a peer Chief Officer are undertaking the two weeks fieldwork inspection. PRC Chairmen and groups of Members are likely candidates for interview in this process so some Members may have been involved in the inspection process.

2.8. As the timetable indicates, the final judgement will not be announced until the Winter when all first tier authorities have been inspected.

Recommendation

1. That the PRC note the CPA Self-Assessment and the ongoing timetable.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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