How can one ensure that value is delivered?

The Government has placed a duty of best value on local authorities to deliver services to clear standards - of cost and quality - by the most economic, efficient and effective means available. Best value is a challenging new performance framework that requires authorities to publish annual best value performance plans and review all of their services every five years.

Authorities must show that they have applied the four Cs of best value to every review:

• challenging why and how a service is being provided;
• comparing their performance with others' (including organisations in the private and voluntary sectors);
• embracing fair competition as a means of securing efficient and effective services; and
• consulting with local taxpayers, customers and the wider business community.

Authorities must demonstrate to local people that they are achieving continuous improvement in all of their services. The Government has decided that each council should be scrutinised by an independent Inspectorate, so that the public will know whether best value is being achieved. The purpose of the inspection and of this report is to:

• enable the public to see whether best value is being delivered;
• enable the Council to see how well it is doing;
• enable the Government to see how well its policies are working on the ground;
• identify failing services where remedial action may be necessary; and

identify and disseminate best practice.