Even before the final framework for the new 'harder test' Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) for single-tier and county councils was published last week, it was not expected that it would extend beyond 2008. Many people in central and local government share the view that CPA needs to be replaced - and councils throughout the country will now be saying 'the sooner the better'. The LGA lobbied strongly for CPA 2005 to be a fairer test - not simply a harder test - and we won a number of concessions from the Audit Commission. The phasing in of the 'value for money' judgement and the 'protection' of corporate assessment scores help, and we also welcome the focus on the direction of travel assessment as the key indicator of how well each council is doing.
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