8.2 How we compare with other councils
Table 16 summarises how we compared with all other English District Councils (DCs) on audited national PIs for the four years from 01/02 to 04/05 (the last year for which audited national comparative information is available). The table shows the number of our PIs that were in:
- The top quartile (i.e. top 25 % of all district councils).
- The middle quartiles.
- The bottom quartile (i.e. bottom 25% of district councils).
Comparing ourselves with all other district councils provides the most realistic comparative assessment of our performance. An average authority would have 25% of its PIs in each of the 4 quartiles i.e. 50% above and 50% below the mid point.
Table 16 - The 2001/02 to 2004/05 DC Quartile Comparison
|
The Quartiles |
% of our PIs per quartile |
|||
|
01/02 |
02/03 |
03/04 |
04/05 |
|
|
Top quartile i.e. Top 25 % |
39 % |
41 % |
24 % |
32 % |
|
Mid to top quartile i.e. 50 % to 75 % |
29 % |
16 % |
24 % |
17 % |
|
Sub total above 50 % |
68 % |
57 % |
48 % |
49 % |
|
Bottom to mid quartile i.e. 25 % to 50 % |
3 % |
16 % |
27 % |
30 % |
|
Bottom quartile i.e. bottom 25 % |
29 % |
27 % |
24 % |
21 % |
|
Sub Total below 50 % |
32 % |
43 % |
52 % |
51 % |
|
Key to colour codes: |
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|
% of PIs in quartile improved on the previous year |
|
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|
% of PIs in quartile worsened from the previous year |
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The table shows an excellent level of performance in 2001/02, with well over half of our PIs (68%) in the top two quartiles and 39% in the top quartile. This was a real achievement, compared with all other DC’s, as we were a low spending DC per head of population.
In 2002/03 we again performed successfully by having 57% of our PI’s above the mid point. Within those figures we had 41% in the upper quartile.
In 2003/04 our performance slipped just below average, in comparison with other DC’s, with only 48% in the top two quartiles. Whilst this slip was disappointing it was in the context of major changes and disruption that the authority experienced in the year, which included factors such as the development of new ICT systems; the roll out of wheeled bins to the whole district; and the move of our headquarters to Cambourne.
In 2004/05 we slightly improved on the 2003/04 performance with 49% of PIs above the mid point and 32% in the top quartile.