Police authority experience of BVPP audits

Report: 4
Date: 21 November 2000
By: Clerk

Summary

This paper tables a report by the Association of Police Authorities (APA) regarding police authority experience of the audit of Best Value Performance Plans (BVPP). NB: This paper is the second in a series of three linked papers.

A. Supporting information

Members will be aware of the need for police authorities to publish an annual Best Value Performance Plan. Best value legislation further dictates that the BVPP must be audited.

The APA recently surveyed all police authorities on their experience of the audit process this year (ie the audit of 2000/01 BVPPs). The findings of the survey are attached at Appendix 1.

In summary, the survey identified major difficulties arising from differences between DETR’s Statutory Guidance and the non-statutory guidance issued by the Home Office to police authorities. In response to APA and ACPO concerns, the Home Office will be releasing its own statutory guidance (expected mid-November). The APA is continuing to pursue issues identified by the survey with the Audit Commission, District Audit, Home Office and DETR.

This paper is the second of three reports for the Committee which relate to lessons learned with respect to the implementation of best value in ‘Year 1’. The three linked papers relate to:

• Audit of MPS Policing and Performance Plan 2000/01 by District Audit;
• National police authority experience of the audit process (this paper);
• National lessons learned from a review of local authority BVPPs.

As can be appreciated there is much to be learnt from these three reports about improving the implementation of best value in the MPA/MPS. Additionally, there are lessons to be learned by considering:

• Best Value Reviews (BVR) conducted by the MPS to-date;
• Feedback from recent seminars held by the APA and Audit Commission;
• The process of ‘continuous improvement’ (planned as MPS workshop).

Consequently, and given that the MPA’s programme of BVRs inherited from the MPS is being reviewed by the Best Value Sub-group, it is considered that this is an appropriate time to ‘take stock and learn lessons’ (although work on existing BVR’s should continue).

Work is ongoing within and between the MPA and MPS to assess the implications of the reports and feedback listed above and to agree how best value should be implemented in Years 2 to 5 (ie 2001/02 to 2004/5). It is anticipated that conclusions and proposals from this work will be available by the end of December.

B. Recommendations

1. To note the survey of police authority experience attached at Appendix 1;
2. To take stock of the MPA/MPS implementation of best value to-date and to learn lessons from the various audits conducted locally and nationally.

C. Financial implications

There are no direct financial implications.

D. Review arrangements

Conclusions and proposals will be presented to FPBV Committee in due course.

E. Background papers

The following is a statutory list of background papers (under the Local Government Act 1972 S.100 D) which disclose facts or matters on which the report is based and which have been relied on to a material extent in preparing this report. They are available on request to either the contact officer listed below or to the Clerk to the Police Authority at the address indicated on the agenda.

• Police Authority Best Value Audits 2000 (APA Survey Report)
• A Step in the Right Direction (Summary of Audit Commission report)

F. Contact details

The author of this report is Derrick Norton.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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