Contact: Helen Wheeler ext 6002 e-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report is to inform Members of the improvement in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment score for the Culture service block in 2005 and of proposed changes and challenges to drive further improvement in CPA 2006.

2 CPA 2005 Culture service assessment

2.1 Hampshire County Council has been awarded the highest score of 4 in the annual service assessment for Culture for CPA 2005. The assessment score is derived from a combination of the existing Leisure and Libraries service inspection score and an assessment against a number of performance indicators that are largely based on the Public Library Service Standards. The achievement of a score of 4 represents an improvement from the 3 scored in the CPA 2004 Leisure and Libraries block.

2.2 The new service assessment regime introduced in CPA 2005 represents a significant change from that in 2004 with the incorporation of weighted scoring of 8 performance indicators against prescribed thresholds accounting for 25% of the final score and the existing service inspection contributing 75% of the score.

2.3 The detail of the assessment against the performance indicators can be seen in the table in Appendix One. The decision to expand the People's Network and the reallocation of resources to the book fund have been significant in ensuring that no indicators were judged to fall below the lower threshold.

3 CPA 2006 and beyond

3.1 From 2006 the Culture assessment will present an even greater challenge by being entirely based on performance against an increased number of performance indicators. Further consultation by the Audit Commission is due to be carried out on the suite of indicators to be included in the Culture block for CPA 2006 in spring 2006.

3.2 The proposals are expected to expand the number and range of performance indicators to represent a broader picture of performance by the cultural services with a combination of provision, satisfaction and participation measures for libraries, sport, museums, arts and countryside. The Public Library Service Standards will continue to form a significant element of the revised suite of performance indicators with the thresholds maintained at the same level for 2006. Our aim will be to achieve the upper threshold in 2006 for a greater number of indicators to demonstrate continuing improvement and retain the 4 rating for Culture in CPA 2006.

Recommendation

That the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage be asked to acknowledge in her report to County Council the achievement of the Recreation and Heritage Department in gaining the highest rating under the CPA annual service assessment for Culture.

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.

TITLE FILE

Supporting Documents

Appendix One

Culture Service Assessment for CPA 2005