A single national performance indicator set will replace existing performance indicator sets, such as Best Value Performance Indicators.

The new set will compromise of 198 National Indicators (NI). The NIs are developed from a new set of national priorities which were agreed in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR07). The NIs will represent all the services local authorities are responsible for, whether they deliver them alone or in partnership with others.

The 198 NIs provide the basis for the selection of local improvement targets agreed between the council and partners.

There are four themes of indicators:

• Stronger and safer communities

• Children and young people

• Local economy and environmental sustainability

• Adult Health & Well-being and Tackling Exclusion & Promoting Equality

Each English local authority will have to report against these National Indicators - the exact indicators varying according to the government tier.

From 2008–09, each LAA will contain:

• Sixteen statutory education and early years targets

• Up to 35 targets taken from the 198 NIs which are relevant locally

The 35 targets will focus on areas of poor performance according to government assessment. The targets will be negotiated with the regional government office. The LAA can also include additional targets to implement the SCS. Additional targets can be taken from the 198 NIs or elsewhere. These will have the same legal status as those targets negotiated with the government office but they will not have to be reported to government.

The 35 targets are likely to be very different from one LAA to another. Factors that will dictate how the nature of the target will vary include the:

• Evidence of current and past performance

• Importance of the issue locally

• Risks to future delivery

This will allow for a far more locally-nuanced system then has been in place before – even for national priorities.

Source: IDeA

The average number of indicators chosen by LAA to be in their baskets was 31 - ranging from 17 at Richmond Upon Thames to the full 35 chosen by 53 LAAs. The top ten indicators for 2008/09 are:

• NI 117 16 to 18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) 111 LAAs

• NI 112 Under 18 conception rate 102 LAAs

• NI 154 Net additional homes provided 100 LAAs

• NI 155 Number of affordable homes delivered (gross) 98 LAAs

• NI 186 Per capita reduction in CO2 emissions in the LA area 97 LAAs 

• NI 056 Obesity in primary school age children in Year 6 99 LAAs

• NI 16 Serious acquisitive crime 94 LAAs

• NI 163 Proportion of population aged 19-64 for males and 19-59 for   females qualified to at least Level 2 or higher 91 LAAs

• NI 123 Stopping smoking 86 LAAs

• NI 001 % of people who believe people from different backgrounds get on   well together in their local area 85 LAAs

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