New national assessments of councils must focus on what Westminster City Council has named the three ‘R's. The council, which was recently handed a top, four-star rating by the Audit Commission, has offered to draw up a new blueprint for Comprehensive Area Assessments, which will replace Comprehensive Performance Assessments in 2009. Chief executive, Peter Rogers, criticised the current CPA regime for the intense preparation councils have to put into inspections. ‘The Government should set inspections, but local councils have the answers to local issues, not central government,' he said. ‘In the future, we should be judged on our application of the three ‘R's – resident satisfaction, responsive services and real value.' The Audit Commission has vowed that it aims to be more relevant to local people by focusing on issues which are important to their community. Mr Rogers added: ‘People don't care who provides services and they are fed up with buck-passing between public sector bodies. ‘It is only possible to satisfy the needs and wishes of local people by listening to them, and responding appropriately, and that means real partnership working across agencies.'
