Main navigation

Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA)

Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) is an annual assessment of a local area and includes a component that looks in more detail at local authorities' performance.

Assessments are undertaken jointly by seven inspection bodies, including the Audit Commission which is responsible for monitoring local government performance. CAA focuses more on outcomes than previous arrangements and assesses "how well people are being served by their local public services. It focuses on how well these services, working together, are achieving improvement and progressing towards long-term goals." ( Comprehensive Area Assessment: Framework Document, February 2009.)

CAA has two elements. (See box below.) Both elements draw on available evidence, including: the national indicator set; self evaluations by councils and other public bodies; and the views of user, residents and other local organisations. Inspections will only take place where the CAA identifies issues of concern.

Click here to for more on how does CAA assess climate change performance?

Two elements of Comprehensive Area Assessment
Elements Bodies to which it applies Method
Area Assessment The local area and all public services operating in the locality. Takes the locally agreed priorities in Local Area Agreements and the sustainable community strategies as the starting point. Looks at the prospects for future improvement in those outcomes that are most important, including over the longer term. Takes into account how well the local partners understand their local communities and reflect this in their priorities, as well as how well served local people are currently.
Organisational Assessment Individual public bodies including local authorities.

For councils this combines two themes into a single assessment of organisational effectiveness:

  • use of resources
  • managing performance

Use of Resources Assessment considers how well the council: manages its finances to deliver value for money; governs itself; manages natural resources and physical assets

The Managing Performance Assessment considers how well the council manages and
improves its services and contributes to wider community outcomes.

Page tools

  • Email this page

  • Rate this page

Need some help?

Email us at practicalhelp@est.org.uk

Tell us what you think about the website.