The Comprehensive Area Assessment regime, which assesses how well local public services are performing, has been abolished. It was administered by the Audit Commission. The CAA will be replaced by self assessment and by publishing performance data so that local people can form a judgement on how well public bodies are performing.
The nine regional development agencies will be abolished during the next two years. They follow the same fate as the eight local leader’s boards and the local government standards board.
The abolition goes ahead despite a spirited defence of the record of the agencies by Sir Harry Studholme, lead Chairman for all England’s RDAs. He argued that Government analysis shows that the RDAs are among the most efficient of all departments and agencies. Independent National Audit Office studies showed that the RDAs were making a real difference in their regions, and their latest report is likely to declare that RDAs are performing ‘strongly’ or ‘to a good standard’ across a wide range of their work.
With the challenge of finding ways to cut budgets by 25 per cent, a survey has revealed that public services find difficulty in analysing how taxpayers’ money is spent. There is a limited use of analysis aids and a skill gap.
Read more on PUBLIC SERVICES BADLY EQUIPPED TO FIND OUT WHERE THE MONEY GOES…
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