CPA Jargon Buster

Audit Commission: Independent body responsible for ensuring that public money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively to achieve high quality local services for the public.

Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA): External assessment carried out by the Audit Commission which looks at how we are delivering and improving services across the whole Council.

Corporate Assessment: Part of the CPA process, this is an onsite inspection that looks at the impact our services have on our communities and how we plan and manage. 

Joint Area Review (JAR): Part of the CPA process, an in-depth assessment that looks at the full range of services for children and young people across the authority.

Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOE): Framework used by Audit Commission inspection teams to gather and assess evidence about how effectively the Council is working.

Performance Indicators: Councils are required to measure their performance in order to know how well they are doing and to identify opportunities for improvement. This is achieved through a mix of national performance indicators determined by Central Government and supplemented by a set of local indicators which reflect our local priorities to provide a more rounded view of the Council's overall performance.

Performance Plan: The Council has a statutory duty to publish how we have performed against our national and local performance indicators. Each June, we publish a Best Value Performance Plan, which records both our performance for the previous year and publishes targets for the next three years.

Self-Assessment: The Council is required to make a self-assessment based on the KLOE so that Audit Commission inspectors can make a judgement as to whether we can support what we say.