Issue - meetings

A presentation will be also be provided.

The Board received a presentation on the forthcoming Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA).

An overview was given of the scope of the CAA and it was noted that this was comprised of two key strands:

Area Assessment

This strand would consider how effectively local public services delivered local priorities, economic prospects, community safety and potential for future improvement.

Organisational Assessment

The second strand would consider the use of resources and performance management and how the Council delivered value for money through the combined use of resources and performance management.

It was noted that Partners would be inspected by their own inspection regimes and that these would liaise with the Audit Commission.

In assessing this four key themes would be considered:

• Management of finances
• Governing business
• Managing resources
• Managing performance

In terms of the Area Assessment the following key areas would be focussed upon:

• How well do local priorities express community needs and aspirations?
• How well are the outcomes and improvements needed being delivered?
• What are the prospects for future improvements?

It was noted that the Local Authority would be required to produce and publish an Annual Summary, which would include an overview of key priorities, overall successes, challenges and future prospects. It was envisaged that these would form a tool for members of the public wanting to obtain an overview of the Borough.

In addition to this a system of red and green flags would be used to indicate areas where arrangements were considered inadequate to deliver improvement or where exceptional or innovative practice was demonstrated.

The Board was advised that that the CAA would take a more holistic approach to assessing performance and would gather evidence over the course of a year rather than focussing on a limited period.

In response to a query, as to how consultation ‘fatigue’ would be avoided, the Board was advised that the Multi agency group had considered this issue and it was proposed that a Consultation Calendar should be established for the CLF. This would take into account the Council’s existing Consultation Calendar and would better align consultation to reduced the number of separate occasions where view were sought from the community.

The Board was advised that the officers from the Council’s Corporate Policy team would be attending the CLF’s Network Event on 30 April to discuss the CEF.

It was noted that the report stated that there were no costs attached to the introduction of the CEF at this stage. The Board was advised that as the CEF developed and costs were incurred, it was envisaged that the partnership as a whole would need to meet these.

The Board was advised that a further would report would be submitted in the Autumn and that would include an overview of progress in forming the CEF Action Plan.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.