Lessons from BV performance plans

Report: 5
Date: 21 November 2000
By: Clerk

Summary

This paper tables a report by the Audit Commission regarding (primarily) audits of local authority Best Value Performance Plans (BVPP). NB: This paper is the third 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 Audit Commission has collated the findings of audits conducted to-date (ie audits of 2000/01 BVPPs). A summary of the findings is attached at Appendix 1. The findings are based primarily on audits of local authorities but are nevertheless considered relevant to all best value authorities.

In summary, the Audit Commission recommends that best value authorities:

• Move to a single planning, action and review cycle (incorporating budget planning and changes flowing from the introduction of best value);
• Ensure that the new duties [on local authorities] to review political arrangements and to introduce community planning are integrated with best value;
• Produce plans and summaries targeted at, and appropriate to, agreed audiences (and using a variety of media to publicise the authority’s work);
• Revisit best value review programmes, especially to:
  • Combine smaller BVRs to ensure a return on the resources invested;
  • Direct resources to where they can have the most impact locally;
  • Identify opportunities for closer working with neighbouring authorities;
  • Amend local priorities in the light of priorities from community planning;
  • Ensure BVR’s are completed promptly and that implementation is tied into existing budget plus service review cycles;
  • Concentrate on using the results of BVR (rather than the process).

This paper is the third of three reports related 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;
• National lessons learned from a review of local authority BVPPs (this paper).

As can be appreciated there is much to learn in these three reports to improve 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 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 expected that conclusions and proposals from this work will be available by the end of December.

B. Recommendations

1. To note the summary review of BVPPs 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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