CPA performance indicators

Sport England response to the Comprehensive Performance Assessment framework announced by the Audit Commission today

New sports indicators developed by Sport England, with the Audit Commission, are included in the new CPA framework for 2006. The indicators are:

All London Boroughs, Metropolitan and Unitary authorities will be assessed and judged against these indicators. County Councils and District Councils' performance against these sport indicators will be considered as part of their corporate assessment - particularly their contribution to partnership working and healthier communities.

Stephen Baddeley interim Chief Executive of Sport England says: "The inclusion of sport in the CPA framework is incredibly important. It will help ensure that sport features as a priority in local public policy and funding decisions and that we increase opportunities for people to take part in sport.

Stephen Baddeley continues; "Whilst it is good news that the new CPA framework contains the sports indicators we are disappointed that County and District Councils will not be judged on these performance indicators as part of their overall service assessment. As the Audit Commission itself states, the role of County Councils in sport provision is very important and Sport England will continue to encourage them to engage with their County Sport Partnerships to increase participation and volunteering rates.

"It is good to see that many of our County Council partners have used the sport indicators as part of their Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and we will encourage this for the next round of LAAs."

Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport says: 'The Audit Commission has recognised that County Councils have an important role to play in ensuring that local people have the opportunity to access quality sports facilities within their area, and to ensure healthy and active communities. But it is very disappointing they have not agreed to make sporting provision part of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment for County Councils. County Councils have a crucial role to play in ensuring we have an active, healthy nation and that those that want to take part in sport have access to good quality local facilities. I believe they should be judged through the CPA on how well they deliver this.'

Next week Sport England will share interim results from the Active People Survey, which provides detailed evidence on adult participation and volunteering levels by local authority area. Commissioned by Sport England, Active People is the first survey to provide detailed evidence and data on participation levels by local authority area. The survey, commissioned in October 2005 and running for a year, will provide a sample of 1000 people per local authority. The data will also be used by the Audit Commission to establish its scores on the CPA participation and volunteering indicators.

The full results from the Active People survey will be available in November; they will provide invaluable information for local authorities on adult participation in sport and volunteering. The results will make a major contribution towards establishing evidence-based policy in sport. The 'Active People Diagnostic', available from November 2006, will provide an innovative, online reporting system where all the results and data from the survey will be available at the touch of a button.

*in urban areas 20 mins walking time; in rural areas 20 mins driving time.