STOCKTON Council has maintained its place amongst the country's top-performing local authorities - one of only nine to do so for the second consecutive year.
In its Comprehensive Performance Assessment, carried out by local government watchdog the Audit Commission, Stockton Council kept its top 4**** score - the highest level possible.
Now the Commission has confirmed the Council is also performing at the highest level of improvement - "improving strongly". Only a small, select group of councils has achieved such a double.
What's more, Stockton also has the highest all-round performance of any council achieving this ratings "double".
The news comes after the Council was recently revealed as the joint top performing local authority for its use of resources - which includes value for money - which only Wandsworth, in London, could match.
Among Stockton Council's top performing services - rated Excellent - were the benefits service, children's services, housing and use of resources. The Commission rated other services as Good.
The Corporate Assessment examined how the Council manages itself overall and ensures our services are high quality, while the JAR scrutinised services for children and young people provided by all publicly funded services in the area, including the Council, NHS, law enforcement and voluntary and community sector. The inspections took place late last year, examining a wide range of evidence gathered over many months. .
Both sets of inspectors agree - public services in Stockton are very good indeed, and set to get better still.
Corporate Assessment: Inspectors say the Council is performing strongly, has made a major contribution to the area's revival and is "fiercely ambitious in its desire to better residents' quality of life".
Stockton is now one of only a handful of councils nationwide to merit an 'Excellent 4-star' rating in its Corporate Assessment - the highest possible level.
The Corporate Assessment report highlighted many strengths across Stockton Council. It praised the way the Council identifies problems then turns them around, saying a "single-minded grip on delivery" has improved services significantly.
The inspection report also said:
· The Council's high profile is the result of "a deliberate strategy designed to bring beneficial change to residents, and is well deserved".
· Stakeholders have above average approval for the Council's work and residents recognise it gives excellent value for money. Financial management is strong and Council Tax rises have been lower than average.
· The Borough's physical environment has improved noticeably and there have been significant achievements in crime reduction, housing renewal, regeneration, children's services, street cleanliness and extending life expectancy.
· There is an embedded culture of user focus, with strong community engagement and an ethic of customer focus.
About the CPA
The Audit Commission introduced Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) in 2002. CPA measures how well councils are delivering services for local people and communities. It provides a set of judgements on the Council and the different services it provides, giving an overall rating for the Council.
The Audit Commission has developed the Comprehensive Performance Assessment framework over the last few years and in 2005 published CPA: The Harder Test (see the Audit Commission CPA website). This has introduced a more stringent test for Local Authorities, with greater emphasis on outcomes for local people and value for money.
Amongst the changes introduced in the harder test for 2005 and subsequent years are a Value for Money judgement, separate judgements for Children and Young People and Adults, the introduction of a Direction of Travel judgement and a change in the classifications from a rating of excellent, good, fair, weak and poor to a rating of 4stars, 3 stars, 2 stars, 1 star and a 0 star rating.
Since 2002 Stockton has been assessed annually, improving our rating from 'Good' in 2002 to the top 'Excellent' rating in 2003, maintaining this status in 2004. Under the new categorisation for 2005 Stockton was assessed as '4 Stars - Improving well', rising to '4 Stars - Improving Strongly' for 2006 and again in 2007.
The Audit Commission scorecard for Stockton detailing individual service scores and how well Stockton has performed over the last year can be accessed below.
Further information on CPA can be found on the Audit Commission web site using the links on the left.
