The Audit Commission has accepted that rolling programmes of local authority inspection should be replaced with a system that involves local people and enables inspectors to concentrate on poorly-performing authorities.
In a discussion paper entitled Assessment of local services beyond 2008, the commission looks beyond its current Comprehensive Performance Assessment framework and envisages a world where inspection concentrates on weak performers and recognises a more devolved approach to decision making.
It identifies the key outstanding issues as the need to ensure quality of services, a risk-based approach to inspection and greater focus on citizen perspectives, but it leaves open key questions on reporting and how to integrate input from the public and voluntary and local organisations.
The report has been published in the wake of a recent CBI study which highlighted the value of ‘empowering local people’ to help improve public services (Surveyor 3 August 2006). ‘Everyone accepts that a new, more risk-based, assessment approach will be needed to reflect both national and local priorities,’ said Sir Michael Lyons, acting chairman of the Audit Commission.
‘We should not underestimate the huge challenges that lie ahead, and the discussions we have now will be key in delivering a considered, robust and flexible new assessment framework.’
Initial reactions to the paper have been favourable and the Local Government Association said there was much in the commission’s report it would support, although it stressed that the ‘devil would be in the detail’.
The association favours the introduction of changes which will put greater emphasis on the views of local people and free councils from the unnecessary bureaucracy of an inspection regime that stifles innovation.
‘It is pleasing to see the commission has recognised that the responsibility for assessing the performance of local services rests with those who deliver or commission them,’ said improvement board vice chair Sir David Williams.
‘The LGA has consistently championed the cause of a locally-focused, resident-driven performance framework for some time.’
http://www.audit-commission. gov.uk/reports