CAA report paints a bleak picture
TEEN pregnancies, obesity, smoking, accidents, bullying and alcohol and drug misuse – all hurdles young people have to overcome growing up in North East Lincolnshire... and all on the increase.
Today the results of the latest Audit Commission assessment have been made public, and it paints a bleak picture for many families in certain areas of our borough.
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According to statistics, the life chances of children here are restricted even before they are born, depending which street you live in.
While there are many plus points in the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) from the independent watchdog – which now includes scores for the police, health services, fire brigade and schools as well as North East Lincolnshire Council – it is the gloomy statistics about our children's health which stand out.
The Audit Commission's job is to provide an independent overview of local public services and is taking a new style this year, gathering information from different services to 'one place'.
The CAA is a new way of assessing local public services in England, and involves six independent inspectorates – the Audit Commission, the Care Quality Commission, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation and Ofsted.
It focuses on what residents, local leaders and service chiefs say are the priorities for their area.
Inspectors issue green flags for good performance and red flags for services where action is urgently needed.
North East Lincolnshire has received one green flag for the number of 16 to 18-year-olds in education, employment or training, and red flags for unsafe and unhealthy housing and the level of inequalities in child health.
To read a full overview of the report and in-depth analysis, see today's Grimsby Telegraph.
Read the full CAA report by clicking on the link on this page.
5 Comments
by A. Grimlander, GRIMLAND, just ask WHY!
Monday, December 14 2009, 8:15PM
“From another thread:
"Disgusted by the way council has treated daughter
Wednesday, December 09, 2009, 06:30" -- 30 comments
'The assessment is:
Managing performance 2 out of 4
Use of resources 2 out of 4
Managing finances 2 out of 4
Governing the business 2 out of 4
Managing resources 2 out of 4
Description of scores:
'Let's not get too enthusiastic:
'2' means "An organisation that meets only minimum requirements, Performs Adequately".
'Well, patently Michael O'Higgins* and his Commission don't have to deal with the desk-drivers employed by our elected representatives.
'There's more to the Never-Ending Story of NELincs Council than recounted here!''
"MEETS ONLY MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS"? After more than a dozen years of existing in its present form!!?? DogElpUs!
*Chairman of the Audit Commission.”
by Hector, somewhere outside Tokyo inventing time
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 6:53PM
“it's hardly the local council's fault the whole town is full of scuffers. They should get a medal for doing as well as they do what with the dumb raw talent they have to work with.”
by E.T., At home.
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 12:22PM
“How much did this "assesment" cost?
As was expected a poor result. It surprises me to find out that one green flag was awarded for increasing the number of 16-18 year olds in education as i am sure that the reason for that is because they choose further aducation rather than the dole queue.
Regards the councils performance. Thats a laugh. Council tax payers deserve better , after all it's their money that they are gambling with.”
by E.T., At home.
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 11:54AM
“How much did this "assesment" cost?
Well we found out what we already knew. I can't see why one green flag was even awarded for increasing the number of 16-18 year olds in education when in most cases they stay on in education to save going on the dole. Also if we are to believe this, why are there so many of these youngsters roaming the streets and intimidating the elderly all day long.
It's no good using phrases like "rolling figures" the facts are there to be seen, why does Grimsby always have to look like a bomb's hit it? this is not what they pay their council TAX for.”
by Alf, Grimsby
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 11:37AM
“Bring investment and proper jobs back to the area and watch things improve. We know what needs to be done but it would probably require some government help and that should be fought for by our MPs, who sit back and let government give help to everyone else in the world before us.
I've just received a Newsletter (first I can remember) from Austin Mitchell this week, in which he says, "I'm in Parliament to work for our town, its industries and you." Then why have we haemorrhaged so many jobs over the years?
Who would want to be a youngster today, what is there for them around here, I feel so sorry for them and it's small wonder a few go off the rails. I see fit and healthy young men putting burgers in buns and laser swiping cans of beans, instead of making things for home and abroad. We don't need continual auditing; we want jobs for our capable young people. The CAA has struck a seasonal chord, because I once heard it said that you don't fatten turkeys by continually weighing them, they need food.”