High-performing councils to be spared inspections to cut red tape

The government has unveiled detailed plans for cutting regulatory red tape. Councils rated "excellent" and "good" in 2002's comprehensive performance assessment will have to go through at least 50% fewer inspection days. The number of separate plans that councils are expected to produce is also being cut, in line with commitments given last November in the local government white paper (HT 5 December 2002, page 9).

Councils will be free to include information that currently appears in housing revenue account business plans, reports on home energy conservation and homelessness strategies within an overarching local housing strategy.

Those rated "excellent" and with three stars will get a three-year inspection holiday, although they will be allowed to request inspection at their own expense. "Good", two-star councils will be subjected to half the number of inspections they currently undergo. The Audit Commission will refer to their CPA result to identify the service areas that can be exempt from inspection.

Inspection will be unchanged for councils rated "weak" or "fair".

As the government gave details of how authorities' inspection loads would be lightened, the Audit Commission unveiled its most comprehensive guidance yet for council housing departments awaiting inspection. The key services criteria, first published last year, have been revised in the light of new legislation such as the Homelessness Act, which came into force last July.

Three-star councils will get a three-year inspection holiday. Two-star councils will be subjected to half the level of current inspections

New criteria have also been set out for inspecting Supporting People services.

Abdool Kara, housing inspectorate manager at the Audit Commission, said: "The criteria are more comprehensive in the sense that they take account of changes over the last year. It's about us being open about what we want to see from councils."

The first results of the comprehensive performance review for district councils have been released amid complaints that the housing aspect was not thorough enough. The scores were: Chichester, excellent; Horsham, excellent, Arun, good; Crawley, fair; Mid Sussex, fair; Worthing, fair. Adur's result was delayed until September.

Councils involved said the housing aspect was insufficiently thorough. The commission proposes conducting separate inspections for councils that have stock and those that have none.