Policy and performance

The new-style Corporate Assessment, a key part of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), rates councils each year.

The CPA looks at how well a council performs in meeting local needs, as well as achievement against national standards. In Corporate Assessment, the council is visited by a team of inspectors who talk to councillors, staff, partners and residents, as well as looking at the council’s plans and achievements to date.

In Medway’s case, the Audit Commission judged the council to be performing well and awarded it a rating of three out of four. This is a tremendous achievement, as it means the previous rating has been maintained in the face of much tougher standards.

The inspection team said the result is a very creditable achievement and that there are strong foundations in place to achieve even more.

Medway Council Leader Cllr Rodney Chambers said: “We believe the Audit Commission’s judgement to be fair.

“We have all worked hard to achieve this. It recognises our ambition and our success so far and confirms we will continue to achieve for the people of Medway.

“As a council, we are making a real difference. The inspectors found we have clear priorities, based on a good understanding of local need.

“We are particularly pleased with the Commission’s comments about our successful Customer First programme and our approach to regeneration, which means that local people will benefit from the changes under way. We are also very pleased that the Commission has acknowledged the effective leadership and improved scrutiny that is in place in Medway.

“There are areas we do need to improve. However, the inspectors have acknowledged that we already have a good understanding of these and have plans in place for improvement.’’

In its report the Audit Commission says:

• Medway has a challenging but realistic ambition to develop a city of learning, culture, tourism and enterprise which is shared by partners and residents and based solidly on a good understanding of local needs.
• Medway has clear, well understood priorities that have good delivery plans in place to make sure it makes progress.
• The Customer First programme has strengthened the council’s focus on users and improved the service given to customers.
• Consultation with residents is regular and effective.
• Medway is performing "exceptionally well" in regeneration.
• It recognises that Medway has deliberately taken a more difficult path to regeneration – not just looking at bricks and mortar but making sure local communities benefit too. The Commission believes Medway is ensuring that regeneration benefits local people and it is linking economic and social regeneration effectively. The work in All Saints is particularly praised.
• The Universities at Medway project is an excellent example of collaboration with partners. This shows the council’s achievement in developing a shared ambition, so maximising the chances of success.
• Medway Council is protecting the environment well – work on recycling and investments in parks is highlighted.
• Medway has an excellent track record of attracting external funds.
• Financial management is strong and the council gives good value for money.
• There is a strong commitment to equalities and diversity.

The council’s self-assessment identified areas where it knows it must do more. There are plans in place to address these and the inspectors recognised this.

Pleasingly, the inspection team commented that complacency is not a word in Medway’s vocabulary and that the council has a good track record of making improvements where they are needed.

Areas for improvement that are being tackled include:

• Affordable housing – the number of affordable homes will increase significantly once schemes like Rochester Riverside and others are built. This is in addition to schemes identified by a dedicated team that has been created by the council to deliver more affordable housing. The council is working to bring more empty homes back into use and with housing associations to deliver further affordable housing.
• Transport – this needs to improve to meet the needs of tomorrow’s Medway, matching the physical regeneration taking place. The council has completed Transport for Medway. This study has generated an action plan within the Local Transport Plan. Transport infrastructure to and from and within Medway is identified as a strategic priority. Funding for improvements to transport infrastructure will be actively sought as part of the regeneration programme.
• Children’s social care services – the council recognises this need and has identified £2 million to strengthen children’s services. The council also recognises that recruitment and retention of staff in this area has been difficult and is using overseas recruitment and financial incentives as methods of attracting and keeping staff.

The Corporate Assessment helped to determine the council’s overall CPA score, which was confirmed at three stars in February 2007. Full details can be found at http://cpa.audit-commission.gov.uk/STCCScorecard.aspx?TaxID=LG-LV-MEDBC.

In giving the council feedback, the Audit Commission inspector described the result as a very creditable achievement.

The full text of the Commission's report for 2006 is available on its website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/reports/CPA-CORP-ASSESS-REPORT.asp?CategoryID=&ProdID=1CBA33D8-899F-43A9-A962-11CA25EEE6EF&fromREPORTSANDDATA=CPA-CORP-ASSESS-REPORT

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