Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA)

Shropshire County Council has continued to improve its performance over the last year, and strengthened its position as one of the best councils in the country.

The local government watchdog The Audit Commission has rated Shropshire County Council a “four star” council, that is “improving strongly” – for the second year running. This is the highest rating possible, achieved by Shropshire County Council and only 9 other councils in the UK.

In its annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment of Shropshire County Council, the Audit Commission said: “There is a strong track record of delivering low-cost, high-quality services in response to local needs.”

The Audit Commission report looks at how performance measures have improved and concludes: “This is the best performance of any county council.”

“Total spending on services per person is among the lowest of all county councils, while performance is among the best in the country,” the inspectors said.

The report acknowledges that external inspection has shown that Children and Young People’s services, and adult social care “are maintaining a very high level of performance.” Cultural services were given the top score, and environment services had improved.

The Audit Commission has also ranked Shropshire County Council among the best five in the country for the way it manages and uses its resources, and among the top five when it comes to delivering value for money.

Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive of Shropshire County Council, said: “Outstanding results like these, year on year, reflect very well on the council’s staff and councillors. They should also give confidence to people, businesses and partner organisations across Shropshire. They mean that the council which delivers over 80% of council services in their local community is performing at the level of the best in the country.

Malcolm Pate, Leader of Shropshire County Council, said: “We have put the needs of Shropshire people at the centre of everything that we do, and we have been successful in delivering to them excellent services that give them great value for money. This remains our goal, and we are very encouraged by this ringing endorsement from The Audit Commission.

Attached to this page are six case studies showing how Shropshire County Council’s “four star” and “strongly improving” services are improving the quality of life for individual local people.