Issue - meetings

This report, which incorporates the Single Improvement Plan update, presents the result of York’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) and Direction of Travel (DoT) for 2007/08.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the Council’s 2007/08 CPA and DoT result be noted.

                        (ii)        That the progress made in addressing areas identified for improvement be noted.

REASON:      To allow Members to assess external inspection results against service improvement achieved and planned.

Members considered a report which presented the results of York’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) and Direction of Travel (DoT) for 2007/08.  This would be the final CPA assessment before the transition to the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA).  Officers reported at the meeting that the CPA refresh score, covering performance up to 31 March 2008, would be published today in the Annual Audit Letter, copies of which would be circulated to all Council Members.

City of York Council had been awarded a 2 star (fair) CPA result, with a judgement of ‘improving adequately’ for DoT.  The full DoT Statement was provided in Annex 1 to the report and the breakdown of the category scores used to calculate the overall score was provided in Annex 2.  Progress on the Single Improvement Plan was set out in Annex 3.  The DoT statement was largely positive and highlighted strong managerial and effective political leadership, as well as sustained focus on improving corporate capacity through the Single Improvement Plan.

It was noted that, although the overall score was lower this year than the 3 stars awarded in 2006/07, the range of scores was much better, with two 4 star and six 3 star ratings being achieved across the ten sub-categories.  Many councils had experienced a similar fall in their overall scores, due to changes to the CPA rules and scoring methodology.  York was in a good position to do well under the more outcome-based CAA regime.

Members expressed surprise at the reduced overall rating, particularly in view of the positive DoT Statement, and noted that good progress had been made on the SIP, which would result in improved service delivery to residents.

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the Council’s 2007/08 CPA and DoT result be noted.

                        (ii)        That the progress made in addressing areas identified for improvement be noted.

REASON:      To allow Members to assess external inspection results against service improvement achieved and planned.