Best Value was introduced by the government in 1997 to replace Compulsory Competitive Tendering of local services. The main purpose of Best Value is to guarantee that local authorities will seek to deliver continuous improvement in all its services. To achieve Best Value, councils have to deliver improved services while taking care to consider economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity and environment.
The four key principles of Best Value have been described as:
- Accountability
- Transparency
- Continuous Improvement
- Ownership
Councils are also required to:
- challenge whether and how they should be providing a service
- compare their services with those provided by others
- consult with service users, local residents and the business community
- assess the competitiveness of the performance of their services with other provider
Glasgow City Council aims to bring about real and measurable improvement in its performance and to provide higher quality, accessible and cost effective services for the people of the City through its commitment to Best Value, continuous improvement and modernisation.
As part of this commitment the Council has completed a five year programme of Best Value Reviews and has launched a new programme of reviews. Current reviews are listed in the following links:
Audit of Best Value - Glasgow City Council
The introduction of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 established Best Value and Community Planning as statutory duties for local authorities. To ensure that local authorities are complying with the provisions of the Act, the Accounts Commission introduced new arrangements for the audit of Best Value within Councils. The purpose of the audit is to provide independent assurance to the public that the local authority is managing its resources and its performance in line with the requirements of the Act and to help Councils to identify and action areas for service improvement.
The audit is based around a self assessment undertaken by each authority, backed up by an audit of the council, undertaken by a team from Audit Scotland. The Council's self assessment report was provided to Audit Scotland on the 18 August 2005 and on site audit work has been completed. As a result of this Audit Scotland have produced a report on the Council's performance to the Accounts Commission.
To view a copy of the Best Value Audit Submission report please access the attachment below.
The Accounts Commission's report commends Scotland's largest council for its improvement agenda and its commitment to change. However it acknowledges the challenges facing the council and highlights areas it needs to focus on (January 2006).
To view a copy of Glasgow City Council: The Best Value and Community Planning report please access the attachment below.
The improvement Plan is the Council's response to the improvement agenda recommended by the Accounts Commission (February 2006)
To view a copy of Glasgow City Council's Best Value Audit Improvement Plan please access the attachment below.