Getting better all the time

London's councils are among the best performing in the country but, as Capital Ambition's recently launched improvement strategy makes clear, they can ill afford to rest on their laurels. Ian Mitchell reports.

The most recent national assessment of the performance of local authorities in England confirmed the continuing success story of London boroughs.

Published in February 2008, The 2007 Comprehensive Performance Assessments (CPAs) saw six London boroughs among 13 across the country to receive the highest possible rating, for the third year running. The figures also showed that 31 of the 33 London boroughs achieved the top ratings of three or four stars, with 32 rated as improving well or strongly.

And alongside improved performance, London boroughs have delivered impressive savings in recent years, with total forecast efficiency savings of nearly £750 million as at 31 March 2008.