Performance Framework 2008/9

It is essential that all local authorities measure and monitor their performance so they can measure how they are doing against both local and national targets, and to enable them to identify areas for improvement.

Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA)

From April 2009 Comprehensive Area assessment (CAA) replaced Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA).  CAA comprised of 2 main elements: an Area Assessment undertaken at county level and Organisation Assessments.   Organisational Assessment took place at individual body level for all councils and combined the Use of Resources and Managing Performance themes into a single combined assessment of organisational effectiveness.

CAA was abolished follwing the change of Governemtn in summer 2010.  

National Indicators (NIs)

National Indicators (NIs) replace BVPIs ( Best Value Performance Indicators) and they came into effect April 2008.  There are 198 NIs in total and they are the means by which central Government measures the performance of local government alone and how it works in partnership with other agencies, for example the Police and NHS.

18 of the National Indicator are assessed my measuring the views of local citizens through the Place Survey (link), which must be administered by all Local Authorities.

The authority's National indicators results will feed into the CAA assessment process.

More information is available on CAA and National Indicators from the Audit Commission website. 

Kent Agreement 2 (KA2)

Many of the NIs relate to outcomes that are the shared responsibility of partner agencies within the area.   The Kent Agreement 2 (KA2) is a 3 year agreement between the Government and Kent Partnership.  The Agreement sets out what is important for Kent over the next three years under eight ‘themes':

• Economic success - opportunities for all
• Learning for everyone
• Improved health, care and wellbeing
• Environmental excellence
• Stronger and safer communities
• Enjoying life
• Keeping Kent moving
• High quality homes

 The Kent Partnership has set out what is important for Kent. They have asked the various public service agencies across Kent, Primary Care Trusts (health), County Council (education, social services and highways), Police, Fire & Rescue Service and district Councils, what they think.  The Kent Partnership has then had to justify the themes and indicators to the Government.  They have agreed 35 National indicators along with statutory DCSF ( Department of Children, Schools and Families) indicators which will monitor the areas performance on the above themes.

The Kent Partnership is the countywide local partnership.  It is made up of representatives from the private, public, voluntary and community sectors.  Shepway, Dover, Canterbury and Thanet have established a joint Local Strategic partnership (LSP).  This monitors the performance of KA2 in East Kent.

The Kent Partnership has sought agreement from all the agencies to work together to achieve the KA2. Comprehensive Area Assessment will judge all the agencies across Kent on what it delivers against the targets in KA2.  Kent County Council is the accountable body for KA2, but all district councils have a statutory duty to help deliver the targets.

Local Indicators

The council also collects and monitors Local Indicators which are developed by the council itself.  They provide an opportunity to monitor and measure information that is specific to our district to give us a clearer indication on how we are performing against local needs.

Data Quality

The information we submit for our Local and National Indicators is subject to an annual audit by the Audit Commission.  As part of the council's Data Quality Strategy, we have a responsibility to ensure that the information we are submitting is accurate and can be supported by evidence.

The Policy and Performance Team carry out checks on the data that is submitted to ensure that the data is in the correct format and meets the definitions set by the Audit Commission.  Internal Audit also carries out an annual performance validation report in which they will check the accuracy of the National Indicator results.

If you have any questions or feedback on this page, please contact the Policy and Performance Team on either 3413 or 3416.