2007 scorecard analysis
What does the 2007 CPA score tell us about Liverpool?
Liverpool's overall assessment is that we are improving adequately and have been awarded a 'one star' rating - down from two stars last year. Liverpool is one of only two councils to be awarded a one-star rating.
However, this score does not accurately reflect the significant improvements in services that have taken place over recent years
It is disappointing that the rules of the Audit Commission's star system![(MS Word [332.5Kb] opens in new window)](/images/Word.gif)
, in particular around the use of resources, should effectively label Liverpool as one of the worst performers in the country when this is clearly not the case.
Service levels across Liverpool in crucial areas such as benefits, children and young people, the environment and adult social care are either 'performing well' or 'performing strongly'. In these areas, the council is amongst the best in the country.
Services in the culture category are described as 'adequate'. This category does not relate to the city's Capital of Culture programme, but to libraries, parks and leisure facilities.
The report points out that the council is continuing to make improvements to many key services, including education and social care. It also says work to regenerate the city, including the construction of the new Arena and Convention Centre, is progressing well.
The overall one-star rating is a direct result of the council being awarded just one star for use of resources. The Audit Commission rules state that a score of one in this category, automatically leads to an overall one-star rating. This despite the fact the council in five out of seven categories is characterised as either 'performing well' or 'performing strongly'.
The Audit Commission's view of best practice in the use of resources is that councils should keep large sums of money in reserve. The council's aim has been to reduce council tax levels while delivering service improvements - rather than building up cash reserves. Liverpool Council's reserves are low because of the need to reduce the burden of a high council tax; and make the much needed investment to improve services.
In 1999/2000 Liverpool had the highest council tax levels in the UK and among the worst services. Since then, council tax rises have either been frozen, cut or kept below the national average. The result is that Liverpool's council tax is now the 102nd highest, a remarkable achievement. At the same time (as this report indicates) services across all areas have steadily improved. In some cases, they are among the best in the country.
The council is already committed to a range of actions to improve its performance in the use of resources category. A panel of external partners will be appointed to monitor and advise on an ambitious improvement programme. These advisers will come from organisations such as the Local Government Association, the Leadership Centre for Local Government, the Audit Commission and IDeA (Improvement Development Agency). This partnership, to be called the Liverpool Strategic Improvement Partnership, will contribute to future improvements in governance and financial planning.
What the Audit Commission report does highlight, however, is that Liverpool is among the top performing councils in delivering good services for children and young people, the elderly and improving the environment.
View the 2007 scorecard![(PDF [38.2Kb] opens in new window)](/images/PDF.gif)
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The detail of our 2007 service scores
Scores for each of the services are based on a 1 - 4 scale, 1 being the worst and 4 the best. Here are Liverpool's 2007 scores, going from best to worst:
- Benefits - 4
- Children and young people - 3
- Social care (adults) - 3
- Environment - 3
- Culture - 2
- Use of resources - 1
- Housing - 1
How did the inspectors arrive at these scores?
Benefits (4) - this score is based on an assessment against the national performance standards set by the Department of Work and Pensions. In the last year there have been further improvements in processing claims and reducing backlog times.
Read the 2007 report
Children and young people (3) - this score is based on an annual performance assessment by Ofsted and CSCI. This year the inspectors stated that the contribution of services to improving health outcomes for children and young people was good. Attainment for older children is improving at a faster pace than nationally. An increasing proportion of young people aged 16 are choosing to stay on in education, employment and training. However, improving attendance remains a particular challenge.
Read Liverpool's 2007 annual performance assessment.
Social care (adults) (3) - this score is based on an annual performance assessment by CSCI (which takes into account inspections and performance indicator performance). For 2007 the inspectors stated that we have:
- improved joint working with health partners in developing an integrated approach to service provision
- improved performance in the overall use of intermediate care
- very good performance across indicators to do with helping people to live at home
- good performance in providing services to carers
- increased the number of people receiving direct payments
- effective leadership and good corporate and political support
However, we need to work on some things, including:
- reducing the number of delayed discharges from hospital
- improving contract monitoring arrangements
- continuing to embed a performance management culture
- continuing to develop pathways to employment for carers and people using services
Read the 2007 annual performance assessment for adult social care
Environment (3) - this score is based on a mixture of judgements on environmental services, transport and planning. Inspectors have reported a further improvement in cleanliness and the condition of the street scene and public realm. There has been increased investment for improving footway condition, but this is still relatively poor. Recycling rates are only slowly increasing and are below the statutory targets.
Read the 2007 environment scorecard
Culture (2) - this score is based on the quality, access, participation and value for money of a range of cultural services, including sports and libraries. The council received a good inspection of its cultural services (read the inspection report ) in 2006, but this was off-set by a lower score on the cultural performance indicators which have a higher waiting in the CPA scorecard.
Read the 2007 culture scorecard
Use of resources (1) - the evaluation looks into five aspects of financial management and control (see 'CPA scorecard explained' for more information).
Read the 2007 use of resources scorecard and report
Housing (1) - this score is based on two elements:
- housing management - many of the performance indicators in this area are in the lower threshold. The inspectors said that we are beginning to address the condition of the local housing stock (housing decency) and this will further improve following the stock transfer in April 2008
- the supporting people agenda and homelessness - three out of the seven indicators covering this area are in the lower threshold. However, we did improve the supporting people inspection score following the inspection in August 2007.
Read the 2007 housing scorecard.