Cumbria County Council has retained its two-star status and is improving well, despite a tougher national assessment regime, according to the Audit Commission's latest findings in its annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). The CPA, which covers the 2007/8 financial year, is the last ever CPA before the new Comprehensive Area Assessment regime begins. 

In its direction of travel assessment, the Audit Commission says: "Cumbria County Council is improving well. Significant improvement was achieved across priority areas; the rate of improvement of services during the last year was greater than nearly all other authorities. The report also highlights the following areas of improvement.

·       Services for older people have been amongst the strongest areas of performance. 

·       There have been good achievements in children's services and further progress has been made in tackling a number of weaknesses identified in previous assessments.

·       Waste minimisation shows consistent improvement, including reductions in waste sent to landfill. 

·       Road safety is improving, and the council is making progress on its approach to climate change. 

·       Crime levels are low overall, with continued improvement through a range of initiatives.

·       The challenges posed by the economy are being tackled, such as by improving skill levels and job creation.

·       Partnership working is developing through the Cumbria Strategic Partnership, and beginning to make a difference in areas such as healthy living. 

·       Various initiatives are improving access to services and a stronger focus on vulnerable groups has been developed. 

·       The county council is achieving good value for money. However, its use of resources is only adequate overall, with financial reporting not meeting adequate standards.

The Audit Commission identified the county council as the fifth most improved council out of 388 in England in the year ended March 2008. Cumbria County Council's Deputy Chief Executive Jill Stannard said: "At Cumbria County Council we set our sights high and these results show we are one of the fastest improving councils in the country. In a tough assessment regime, Cumbria has not only held its own but has also improved its direction of travel. We were disappointed that we did not move up to be a three-star council. 

Since the Audit Commission's assessment, we have done a lot of work on Use of Resources. The organisation is now more efficient, more focused and more intent on improving performance and delivering the best possible services to the people of Cumbria.”