February could be the last chance for upper tier authorities to upgrade their ratings in the Audit Commission's annual league tables. The commission admitted earlier this year that its annual Comprehensive Performance Assessments would be delayed until February, from their normal pre-Christmas slot. But in the rush to get ready for the new Comprehensive Area Assessments, which have been outlined in the local government White Paper, the commission has yet to decide if this will be the last league table before CPA is scrapped. Speaking during an interview with The MJ, new commission chairman, Michael O'Higgins, said the issue was ‘still being discussed'. Proposals will go before the board next month before being put out to consultation. With two-thirds of councils now rated as three or four stars, the final league table will give them the chance to upgrade their score before the demise of CPA. The commission will still continue with its ‘rolling assessments' until 2008 so councils will be able to have their improvements recognised. Mr O'Higgins told The MJ the new area assessments would pose a huge challenge for the commission to inspect. The risk-based assessments will consider how the council will perform in future, instead of considering past performance – as CPA did. Inspections will then be concentrated on high-risk authorities – which may be high risk because they are innovative or because of external factors, as with Newham LBC, which has the Olympics on its doorstep. The new system also means the commission will have to learn to find a way to inspect Local Strategic Partnerships.
