UPDATE ON THE BEST VALUE REVIEW PROGRAMME (DECISION)
BVC 40/05
BEST VALUE AND PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE: 2nd May 2006
OFFICER REPORTING: JANET HALLIDAY: HEAD OF CORPORATE
PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
1.
PURPOSE OF REPORT
To update the committee on the Best Value Review programme
2.
OFFICER'S RECOMMENDATION: That members note progress on the
Best Value Review programme and agree the Terms of Reference attached.
3.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
3.1
Wards Affected
All wards will be affected by the Best Value Review programme.
3.2
Relevant Matters Upon Which Decision is Based
Year Six Best Value Review Programme
1.
Fleet management
This review has now completed its way through Cabinet. The Outcome
Improvement Plan (OIP) is beginning to be implemented. A high level
working group, formed from key service areas, will oversee the progress on
this plan.
2.
Legal
This review has also completed its way through Cabinet and the related
Outcome Improvement Plan is being implemented.
3.
Council Services for Emergency Planning and Civil Contingency
Work has now started on this Best Value Review. The team undertaking the
review is from the same unit as the one that undertook Fleet Management,
so the review has had to wait for the latter to be finished in order to begin.
The issue is topical for most local authorities and Bracknell Forest Borough
Council are also undertaking a Best Value Review on the same subject at
the moment. We may well be able to use their experiences and some of the
background work that they have done, to assist with our review. The review
report will be submitted to the Best Value and Performance Improvement
Committee early in 2007.
The Terms of Reference for the review are attached as Appendix 1 to this
report, for Members’ comments and approval.
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Year Seven Best Value Review Programme
At its last meeting, the Best Value and Performance Improvement Committee
endorsed the proposal to integrate Best Value Reviews and the Council’s business
process Service Reviews into a single, coherent programme, to enable us to gain
some efficiencies and work in a more effective and integrated manner.
Members further approved the suggestion that future reviews will be tied into
supporting the Council’s structural changes. These will enable a smooth transition
to be made and to ensure that full account is taken, when designing services for the
future, of customers’ aspirations and of best practice. Work is to begin on these
new style reviews in Summer 2006.
3.3
Options Available and Risk Assessment
Emergency Planning Terms of Reference
a) Agree the Terms of Reference for the Emergency Planning Review
b) Suggest amendments to the Emergency Planning Terms of Reference
3.4
Reasons supporting recommendations
Suggested reviews of Children’s Services are based on both national and local
priorities and are key to the future working of the Council. Linking Best Value
reviews with service reviews will ensure that we fully abide by ODPM guidance
and the arrangements will ensure that the Council continues to meet its statutory
duties in regard to Best Value and provide an enhanced framework for the review
programme.
Discussions with Audit Commission inspectors suggest that all Best Value reviews
should have terms of reference that have been considered by members.
3.5
Relevant National/Regional Guidance
The Local Government Act 1999 places a statutory duty on Councils to provide
Best Value Services from 1 April 2000. The Act is supported by guidance from
the relevant central government departments and the Audit Commission.
(Appendix 2)
3.6
Relevant Council Policies/Strategies
These reviews will help to deliver the Council’s policy in relation to the delivery of
Best Value.
Ongoing and suggested reviews contribute to the Community Strategy in the
following ways:
Best Value Review
Key Theme or Guiding Principles it supports
Year 7 Reviews
Emergency Planning and Civil
Being safe and secure
Contingency
A good place to live work and visit
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All reviews are undertaken within the framework of the corporate local best value
guidance and methodology.
4.
CONSULTATION CARRIED OUT
Consultation is an integral part of all Best Value Reviews
5.
IMPLICATIONS
5.1
Financial
Resourcing reviews will be addressed within directorates.
5.2
Legal
There is a legal requirement under the Best Value Act 1999 to conduct Best Value
Reviews.
5.3
Human Rights Act
None of the convention rights are affected by this decision.
5.4
Planning
None related to this report.
5.5
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is an integral part of all Best Value reviews.
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Appendix 2 – ODPM Guidance
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1999 - REVIEW PROGRAMMES
44. The requirement for authorities to review all their functions over a five-year cycle
was revoked in SI 2002/305. This change does not remove the legal requirement on
local authorities to review their functions, as specified by Section 5 of the 1999 Act.
Rather, it enables them to focus reviews on priority areas arising from their CPAs and
other considerations.
45. Reviews should not be undertaken simply because authorities have previously
given undertakings to assess a particular service in an earlier programme. Similarly,
many straightforward improvements can be made without the need for a review. But
reviews are likely to be important where:
• there is a need to improve performance on a shared or local priority; or
• authorities are unclear whether a service is still needed or whether its
contribution is as effective as it could be; or
• there is a prima facie case for a new service or new configuration of an existing
service; or
• there is evidence that the costs of a service are significantly out of line with
comparable services elsewhere; or
• there is a clear opportunity to work with other authorities to deliver common
services, through for example, new technology.
46. Authorities should in any case adopt a proportionate approach to their review
programming: it should focus on the areas that present the most serious challenges
and biggest opportunities for service improvement. Where authorities have completed
a CPA, they will be expected to draw up a review programme which reflects their
pattern of strengths and weaknesses, and include this in their next Performance Plan.
In the case of authorities categorised as poor, weak or fair, they will need to develop a
programme which satisfies the Audit Commission and other inspectorates that key
areas of weakness are to be addressed in a timely manner, and in a way that fits well
with the inspection timetable. Where a CPA has yet to be completed, authorities’
review programmes should be sufficiently flexible to reflect, where appropriate,
reviews that can be completed ahead of CPA or, where this is not possible,
arrangements for developing their programmes in the light of their CPA.
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