Audit Commission framework review

Sport England and the sports minister, Richard Caborn, have labelled the Audit Commission's new Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) framework "disappointing".

The Audit Commission's new framework document identified three new performance indicators for sport for London boroughs, Metropolitan and Unitary authorities – following last year's decision to include sport and culture as part of the assessment process of local government performance – but stopped short of assessing District and County councils along the same lines.

The three indicators are: participation – the percentage of adults participating in at least 30 minutes moderate intensity sports and active recreation (including recreational walking) on three or more days a week; volunteering – the percentage of adults volunteering in sport for at least one hour a week; and choice and opportunity – the percentage of the population within 20 minutes travel time of a range of different sports facilities, one of which has achieved a quality assured standard.

Stephen Baddeley, interim chief executive of Sport England, said: "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.

"While 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," he added.

Richard Caborn said: "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. I believe they should be judged through the CPA on how well they deliver this." Details: www.audit-commission.gov.uk