The duty of Best Value requires councils to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way they carry out their functions. The Act requires councils to devise a programme of reviews to examine all their functions and publish plans relating to performance showing past and projected performance. Our plan of performance is called the Annual Report.
Best Value Reviews are the principal means by which councils consider new approaches to service delivery and set demanding performance targets. Reviews must demonstrate the 4 Cs:
- Challenge why and how a service is being provided;
- secure comparisons with the performance of others across a range of relevant indicators, taking into account the views of both service users and potential suppliers;
- consult local taxpayers, service users, partners and the wider business community in the setting of new performance targets;
- consider fair competition as a means of securing efficient and effective services
To do this properly, Reviews will need to:
- take a sufficiently long-term perspective;
- involve elected Members;
- seek advice from outside the council;
- involve those currently delivering the service; question existing commitments;
- engage with users and potential users of services;
- address equity considerations, and give effect to the principles of sustainable development.
Best Value is more than just a process. It will require us to challenge and change our ideas about the way local services are delivered and how we should involve and relate to our communities. Delivering local services to a consistently high standard and at an acceptable cost will require a clear corporate vision, breaking down barriers between departments, improving communication, and seeking innovation and honesty about current performance.
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