Partners working hard to improve future of the borough

9 December 2009

CAA AREA ASSESSMENT

THE collective performance of local partners in areas including improving crime and community safety and reducing the number of young people not in education, training or employment are highlighted in a newly published report on how well public and private sector partners in Barnsley are doing to improve their communities.

The comprehensive area assessment, published by the Audit Commission, also compliments the partners for good levels of recycling, taking steps to improve the future environment, together with improving road safety and reducing congestion.

The new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) process, compiled by the Audit Commission and other regulators including Ofsted, assesses how well partners are working together to improve the communities they serve.

The assessment also highlights some areas where partners need to ensure a continued focus, given the challenges they face, which reflect the history and needs of the borough. These include supporting the local economy, ensuring the provision of affordable housing, improving levels of satisfaction amongst residents who receive public services and working together better to tackle the causes and effects of alcohol harm.

The assessment also gives partners a ‘red flag’ – where action is particularly needed – for improving health for all in recognition of the health inequalities that exist both within the borough – where residents from one part of the borough die much earlier than others – and between Barnsley and the rest of the country. This will be an area of ongoing attention during the next 12 months given its long term importance to Barnsley as a whole.

Responding to the first CAA assessment, the Chair of the Local Strategic Partnership (the umbrella body where all local partners come together) Cllr Steve Houghton said:

“The CAA assessment has been a helpful, independent review of how well we are doing and has highlighted those areas where we need to ensure that our efforts and attention are fully focused. 

“Given the challenges the borough faces, and the current economic climate, the assessment has served to confirm the priorities for improvement and to reinforce the commitment and efforts of partners to tackle them.  We will be working very hard, within the context of anticipated reductions in public expenditure over the next few years, to maximise the use of resources available across all partners to address the issues identified within the CAA.”

The CAA will be an annual assessment of each area – and the organisations that work in each area – to assess how well local priorities are being delivered and making a difference to people’s lives.

Visit the Oneplace website to read the Audit Commission's full assessment, or click here to read about the Audit Commission's verdict on Barnsley Council.

ENDS