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Nicola Bulbeck wonders if the CAA will be seen as a stylish improvement or cheap imitation of previous assessments This month sees the final CPA results made public, but, much like the ever-changing world of high fashion, this form of assessment is already ‘so yesterday and last season's colour'. We are already turning our attention to the much-heralded Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), the new combined inspection regime which we in the public sector are regularly assured, we asked for. The ink might not be quite dry on the scheme, and some of the contents aren't even published – and won't be until after it starts – but nevertheless, CAA is ready to strut its stuff on the catwalk, presumably in the hope that the glitz and glamour of the launch will distract us from some of the very real concerns surrounding the construction and cut of the new regime. For example, using ‘area assessments', how does one fairly compare diverse areas such as Yorkshire and Devon in light of their local needs and priorities in any meaningful way? This seems to invite ‘spin', and it may be that those authorities which put their best communicators on this job will be most successful. How much is this all costing? At a time when local government is facing entirely-understandable scrutiny of its spending, can we justify the costs associated with the changing face of the Audit Commission collections? This is of special concern for smaller councils, where the prospect of spending more time and money on self-assessments and regular conversations with our auditors, rather than in delivering service improvements, is not a palatable pill to swallow. Or, is this just the same garment with a different name? Last season's body warmer, this season's gilet? Certainly the ‘organisational assessment' element looks very similar to CPA, but bigger. Even our colleagues from the commission helpfully refer to the ‘use of resources' and ‘direction of travel' elements of CAA, which – despite a comforting familiarity – already dash hopes of a more svelte annual inspection. Will CAA drive improvement? It looks likely that we will all get better at filling out forms and answering questions, but surely the proof that this is a change worth making is in the improvements it can inspire. Services and value for money management haven't improved hugely under CPA, and so far, there's little evidence that CAA will provide the impetus for improvement. If your bum still looks big in it, it's not worth buying! Of course it's early days to make our minds up on the merits – and demerits – of CAA, but for everyone committed to improving services, rather than just ticking boxes, there are many tough obstacles for it to overcome. It might just surprise us and deliver on its promise to act with a light touch and be less of a burden. The onus is on CAA to deliver, and for our part, we'll do our utmost to make the system work for our customers. Let's just hope that this year's ‘Audit Commission Collection' is a little black dress rather than a white sequined pants suit. Nicola Bulbeck is chief executive of Teignbridge DC

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WHITEHALL

Same old, same old...

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