Bexley Achieves Top Four Star Rating - Again!
The Audit Commission has announced this week that the London Borough of Bexley
has been awarded top marks under the Government's "harder test" Comprehensive
Performance Assessment (CPA).
This assessment focussed on the performance and delivery of a wide range of
services. Councils are awarded ratings on five levels, ranging from zero to
four stars and Bexley secured the top 'four-star' rating for the sixth successive
year.
CPA ratings combine a number of elements, including scores against seven
service areas, a Corporate Assessment, which measures the Council's effectiveness
as a community leader, and a Direction of Travel report.
Bexley scored top marks in two of the seven areas (Adults' Social Care and
Environment ) and was judged as 'very good' for Children and Young People's
Services, Benefits and Use of Resources.
The Council's Culture service maintained its score of two out of four. However,
a residents' survey conducted in the Autumn 2006 shows that residents are very
satisfied with sports & leisure facilities, libraries, and parks & open
spaces in the borough. In fact, Bexley is in the top 25% of councils in the
country for these facilities.
Bexley also had a score of adequate (two out of four) for its Housing service.
However, this score masks the fact that there are no areas of poor performance
in Housing and the service continues to perform well above average.
In the Council's 'Direction of Travel' report, the Audit Commission recognised
Bexley's high levels of residents' satisfaction and good improvement in priority
areas such as educational attainment, crime and disorder, and environment services
and judged the Council as 'improving well'. The report also commends the Council's
approach to performance management and the ongoing work to make good use of
resources and achieve value for money.
Cllr Ian Clement, the Leader of the Council, said: "We know that it is
not all about scores and ratings. However, this is still an achievement of
which we can be proud.
"Achieving four-star performance is a joint effort by residents and partners,
as well as Council staff. It is this joint approach that has, in the past year,
led to significant improvements in educational achievement (especially at GCSE
level) and a significant reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour, with
the London Borough of Bexley rated as one of the safest boroughs in London.
The Council's combined recycling and composting levels continue to be the highest
in London and the high satisfaction levels with the borough's libraries demonstrates
the ongoing success of the Library re-development programme. Continued work
with the Kent Community Housing Trust and MCCH has also ensured that the needs
of adults and older people, particularly those with dementia and learning disabilities,
are met. These factors all contribute to improving the quality of life of all
those who live and work in the borough.
"Our mission statement is "Listening to you, Working for you" and
over the coming months we will continue to look at ways of improving services
by considering the views of our residents and service users, as well as employing
new ways of working that ensure good value for money."
David Berry, the Council's Acting Chief Executive said: "There is an
ongoing pressure for Councils to secure greater efficiency and at the same
time to deliver the quality services that our residents expect and deserve.
London Borough of Bexley is already committed to this approach, emphasising
three key priorities in all that we do: achieving value for money, improving
the environment and promoting safety. We are extremely proud of this latest
CPA assessment but are not complacent. The Government's assessment regime continues
to get harder and, while we celebrate the success of this star rating, we remain
focused on delivering change focused on improved services to residents. We
know that there are areas where we can improve and we will be working with
our partners to deliver in these areas over the next three years through the
borough's new Local Area Agreement, which will be in place from June 2008."
Full details of the Council's star rating are available on the Audit Commission's
website at 
www.audit-commission.gov.uk and also on the Council's website at
www.bexley.gov.uk/about/cpa/cpa2007
The Council's mission - "listening to you, working for you" - will
only be effective if residents talk to the Council and give it their honest
views on service delivery and what you expect from the Council and its partners.
Why not join the 'TalkBack' Panel, a representative group of residents who
are regularly consulted on key issues in the borough either through postal
and on-line surveys or small discussion groups?
To join TalkBack or find out more, please contact the Council's Performance
Team on 020 8294 6039, email performance.team@bexley.gov.uk or
complete the on-line form at www.bexley.gov.uk/contact/talkback
