What are the principles of "Best Value"?
While the city council takes pride in its dedication to the services we provide to local people, there are probably things we could change to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
The best value review process gives everyone an opportunity to identify such improvements. In each best value review, local authorities must consult their:
- council tax payers
- business rate payers
- users and potential users of services
- anyone interested in the work area
Councils have to review all their activities and their best value review programme puts the reviews into order based on local priorities such as:
- where there is most scope for improvement
- where services are performing poorly
- areas of significant local interest or concern.
A large number of very small reviews is usually very time consuming and not very effective, so authorities have been encouraged to have a smaller number of larger reviews, including some which cut across existing service boundaries.
Reviews must:
- challenge why and how a service is being provided
- compare performance with others to see where improvements could be made
- consult local taxpayers, service users, partners and the wider business community in the setting of new performance targets
- compete wherever practicable, fairly and openly to provide the best services
The reviews should produce demanding targets with clear action plans for how they are to be achieved.
Need more information?
You can find out more about best value by visiting the Improvement & Development Agency's Best Value web site.
This page was last updated on 30 June 2004
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