Comprehensive Area Assessment
Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) replaces CPA (Comprehensive Performance Assessment), which has been the inspection and assessment framework for local authorities since 2002.
The new CAA framework is designed to connect inspection and assessment activity across local government and key partners. As well as sharing the national indicator set and local area agreement targets, partner assessments will all use similar methodologies and be reported through a shared, public-facing website.
The assessment has two elements:
• Area assessment – the area assessment is reported as a narrative accompanied by green and red flags. There is no overall score. The assessment focuses on 3 questions:
1. How well do local priorities express community needs and aspiration?
2. How well are outcomes and improvements being delivered?
3. What are the prospects for improvement?
• Organisational assessment – This is an expanded ‘Use of Resources’ assessment, which was part of CPA. It will be used to measure partner organisations as well as councils. It will be scored, and scores will be affected by relevant green and red flags in the area assessment.
In December 2009 the county received its CAA Area Assessment from the Audit Commission and North Northamptonshire was awarded a Green Flag for its groundbreaking solutions for the regeneration in Corby.
The CAA however pointed out several areas which needed improvement with particular emphasis on the need for a reduction in the harm caused by alcohol, with Corby and Northampton being highlighted as particularly challenging in this area. Work is being undertaken towards tackling some of the improvement areas.
