In September CIPFA launched the provisional 'Value for Money Toolkit'.

The toolkit is available to all councils across England as a way of getting up-to-date information on their council's performance, and how it compares to other authorities. It brings together a range of performance indicators, along with financial information to help identify areas where efficiencies can best be made.

Some of the key features of the model are:

- Provides a powerful, yet simple to understand, visualisation of all services on the same scale.
- Data required to drive the model is either readily accessible, or easy to collate.
- Indicators can be ‘weighted' or excluded to allow for individual authority circumstances or priorities.
- A range of comparator groups are available.

This tool is freely available to all English authorities http://www.cipfastats.net/vfmtoolkit/  

(The toolkit should not be released to any third parties and should be used for internal process only).