Ten more councils question CAAs
Author: Public Service - Dec 11, 2009
The comprehensive area assessment (CAA) system is unhelpfully judgmental and manifestly unfair, according to a report based on interviews with 'systems thinking leaders' at 10 councils.
Released by an informal sub group of SOLACE members, the report – called 'Learning to let go: what government should put in place instead of the illusion of control' – said there was no evidence that inspection led to better outcomes, it is hugely expensive and it saps the morale of staff, stifling creativity and innovation.
The report added: "Without exception, the interviewees thought the Audit Commission's role should be greatly reduced."
Instead of CAA, Professor John Seddon's 'One Question' approach to inspection should be adopted, the group said, because it asks one question of public sector managers: "What measures are you using to help you understand and improve the work?"
The report advised the government to adopt two principles in its relationship with local government – that "inspection should be at the minimum to ensure financial probity and the safety of the public, in particular, vulnerable people" and that "local government should be free to set its own priorities within a much simpler national network of priorities".
The report's author Paul Buxton said: "Ministers are looking for the alternative to targets and inspection and this report details how systems thinking would unleash phenomenal improvement and reduce costs at the same time".
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