Inspectors Say Wokingham District Council Is Good And Getting Better!
Good and getting better - that's the verdict of Government watchdog the Audit Commission in an independent Wokingham report released today, Thursday December 15.
Wokingham District Council services have been put under the Audit Commission spotlight throughout the year with Audit Commission inspectors poring over performance statistics and scoring individual services as part of the council’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). Particular attention was paid to how the council uses its resources.
And in their report, the Audit Commission says that the Wokingham council is improving well and is a three star council.
“This is very good news,” says chief executive Doug Patterson. “The CPA rules changed this year, making it much more difficult. Last year we were rated ‘good’ and I am delighted that we have been able to retain this level of achievement, despite the CPA becoming a much harder test of our services.
“The CPA is a catalyst to service improvement, and a successful CPA inspection is further testament to the fact that we are serving the community well – highlighting what we have achieved and how much has improved. We know we’re not perfect and that there are a lot of challenges ahead but it will allow us to celebrate our successes locally and nationally through independent recognition, share our good practice and show others how it is done!”
The Comprehensive Performance Assessment aims to drive up standards in local services. Devised by the Audit Commission, it applies to all unitary councils, such as Wokingham District Council, as well as all London boroughs and county councils.
Leader of the Wokingham council Cllr Frank Browne said: "CPA reflects on every service, the corporate management of the authority and the way we serve the residents of the district. I am pleased that the Audit Commission's report shows the council in such good light, despite its financial restrictions.
“The assessors identified what we are strong at, as well as those areas where we need to demonstrate further improvement. I recognise and accept the assessors’ points on these services and will ensure that we focus even more strongly on improving them over the coming year. That said, I am delighted that these independent assessors recognised the overall high standards of services provided by our staff to our residents.”
In their Wokingham report the CPA inspectors said: “The council has improved its performance in its highest priority, education - building on already high standards. Its focus on weaker services – benefits, planning and housing – is now resulting in improved performance. Improvements have also been made in other priority areas including waste recycling, road safety and adult social care. However, the assessment for children’s social care has fallen and some areas have not improved such as street cleaning and the condition of minor roads.”
The Wokingham report goes on to say: “The council manages its finances well. It is improving value for money as well as the quality of its services and has managed to keep council tax rises at a low level. Surveys show that there has been a six per cent increase in public satisfaction with the council since 2003. And the council has increased its ability to improve by developing key plans, making better use of IT, improving purchasing, strengthening its approach to social inclusion and starting a programme of service reviews. However, it has made little progress in improving how leading councillors are held to account for council decisions.”
Doug Patterson said: “Our focus has been value-for-money, high performance and customer care and this has been recognised by the Audit Commission. Our direction of travel is strong and already our action plans to improve our weaker services are paying dividends – performance is up in benefits, planning and housing. But we are not complacent and will strive to do even better and to continue to improve well.”
Copies of the report are available from executive officer Neil Carr on (0118) 974 6023 or on the Audit Commission Inspection website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk.
Wokingham District Council services have been put under the Audit Commission spotlight throughout the year with Audit Commission inspectors poring over performance statistics and scoring individual services as part of the council’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). Particular attention was paid to how the council uses its resources.
And in their report, the Audit Commission says that the Wokingham council is improving well and is a three star council.
“This is very good news,” says chief executive Doug Patterson. “The CPA rules changed this year, making it much more difficult. Last year we were rated ‘good’ and I am delighted that we have been able to retain this level of achievement, despite the CPA becoming a much harder test of our services.
“The CPA is a catalyst to service improvement, and a successful CPA inspection is further testament to the fact that we are serving the community well – highlighting what we have achieved and how much has improved. We know we’re not perfect and that there are a lot of challenges ahead but it will allow us to celebrate our successes locally and nationally through independent recognition, share our good practice and show others how it is done!”
The Comprehensive Performance Assessment aims to drive up standards in local services. Devised by the Audit Commission, it applies to all unitary councils, such as Wokingham District Council, as well as all London boroughs and county councils.
Leader of the Wokingham council Cllr Frank Browne said: "CPA reflects on every service, the corporate management of the authority and the way we serve the residents of the district. I am pleased that the Audit Commission's report shows the council in such good light, despite its financial restrictions.
“The assessors identified what we are strong at, as well as those areas where we need to demonstrate further improvement. I recognise and accept the assessors’ points on these services and will ensure that we focus even more strongly on improving them over the coming year. That said, I am delighted that these independent assessors recognised the overall high standards of services provided by our staff to our residents.”
In their Wokingham report the CPA inspectors said: “The council has improved its performance in its highest priority, education - building on already high standards. Its focus on weaker services – benefits, planning and housing – is now resulting in improved performance. Improvements have also been made in other priority areas including waste recycling, road safety and adult social care. However, the assessment for children’s social care has fallen and some areas have not improved such as street cleaning and the condition of minor roads.”
The Wokingham report goes on to say: “The council manages its finances well. It is improving value for money as well as the quality of its services and has managed to keep council tax rises at a low level. Surveys show that there has been a six per cent increase in public satisfaction with the council since 2003. And the council has increased its ability to improve by developing key plans, making better use of IT, improving purchasing, strengthening its approach to social inclusion and starting a programme of service reviews. However, it has made little progress in improving how leading councillors are held to account for council decisions.”
Doug Patterson said: “Our focus has been value-for-money, high performance and customer care and this has been recognised by the Audit Commission. Our direction of travel is strong and already our action plans to improve our weaker services are paying dividends – performance is up in benefits, planning and housing. But we are not complacent and will strive to do even better and to continue to improve well.”
Copies of the report are available from executive officer Neil Carr on (0118) 974 6023 or on the Audit Commission Inspection website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk.
Wokingham District Council ~ December 14, 2005
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