This survey by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy reveals that although external funding is a valuable source of alternative income for local authorities, not all are making the most of the opportunities available to them. External Funding is money paid to local authorities not accounted for within the Formula Spending Share and distributed by various UK and EU agencies.The survey indicates that many local authorities do not know how many bids they submit annually and, of those, how many are successful. Feedback from local authorities indicates the need for effective performance management data on external funding. The vast majority of local authorities recognise the importance of this and welcome the benefits of such an approach. However, there is clearly room for improvement , particularly as external pressures are forcing them to take tough spending and funding decisions.
Hospitals are being challenged today to regain patient’s confidence about cleanliness by bringing all services up to the standards of the best. The Healthcare Commission makes the call today as it publishes the findings of the first independent inspections of hospital cleanliness in England, which show only one in three hospitals measuring up to the highest standards.Inspectors visited 99 NHS and private hospitals between July and September. The visits were unannounced to prevent Hospitals carrying out any late clean up work before the inspectors’ arrival. Two thirds of hospitals failed to meet the highest standards in cleanliness across the board with mental health hospitals in the sample performing particularly poorly.
Read more on COMMISSION ISSUES CLEANLINESS CHALLENGE TO HOSPITALS…
Most English councils are performing well according to the latest assessment by the Audit Commission but it says some authorities are finding improvement a challenge and ten have gained only one or no stars at all. The report, “CPA – The Harder Test, Scores and Analysis of Performance in Single Tier and County Councils 2005”, published today, is the fourth annual assessment of councils.The Commission says Comprehensive Performance Assessment has helped drive improvement in councils – and it is warning that assessment may be even tougher next year. The Assessment shows two-thirds of councils have achieved the top two categories of 3 or 4 star performance, demonstrating consistent performance in all the assessed elements.
Read more on MOST COUNCILS PERFORMING WELL – BUT CPA MAY GET TOUGHER…