BEST VALUE
Contents:
Scope
Key Points
Background
The Duty of Best Value
Implementing the Duty of Best Value
Enquiries
Scope
1. This section describes the duty of Best Value in Public Services and contains guidance to Accountable Officers on what their organisations should be able to demonstrate in fulfilment of their Best Value duty to secure continuous improvement in the performance of the organisations' functions.
Key Points
2. Accountable Officers appointed by the Principal Accountable Officer for the Scottish Administration (PAO) have a specific responsibility to ensure that arrangements have been made to secure Best Value.
3.The Scottish Ministers expect all Accountable Officers to comply with the duty of Best Value placed upon them.
4. The Boards (or equivalents) of constituent parts of the Scottish Administration and other relevant public service organisations have corporate responsibility for promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources by the organisations in accordance with the principles of Best Value.
Background5. Best Value provides a common framework for continuous improvement in public services in Scotland, and is a key foundation of the Scottish Executive's Public Service Reform agenda. Accountable Officers appointed by the Principal Accountable Officer for the Scottish Administration (PAO) have a specific responsibility to ensure that arrangements have been made to secure Best Value. The Scottish Ministers expect all Accountable Officers to comply with the duty of Best Value placed upon them. In addition the Boards (or equivalents) of constituent parts of the Scottish Administration and other relevant public service organisations have corporate responsibility for promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources by the organisations in accordance with the principles of Best Value. Under the terms of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 the implementation of the duty of Best Value by relevant public service organisations is subject to scrutiny by the Auditor General for Scotland. Guidance on the implementation of Best Value (see paragraphs 8 to 10 below) has been produced following extensive consultation with Scotland's public service organisations.
The Duty of Best Value
6. The duty of Best Value in Public Services is as follows:
- To make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in performance whilst maintaining an appropriate balance between quality and cost; and in making those arrangements and securing that balance,
- To have regard to economy, efficiency, effectiveness, the equal opportunities requirements, and to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
7. There are nine characteristics of Best Value that public service organisations are expected to demonstrate:
- Commitment and Leadership
- Sound Governance at a Strategic and Operational Level
- Accountability
- Sound Management of Resources
- Responsiveness and Consultation
- Use of Review and Options Appraisal
- A Contribution to Sustainable Development
- Equal Opportunities Arrangements
- Joint Working
Implementing the Duty of Best Value
8. Best Value Guidance to Accountable Officers and Best Value Secondary Guidance to Accountable Officers is available on the Scottish Executive website. This Guidance provides detail on the characteristics of an organisation that wants to secure Best Value and articulates how each of the individual characteristics work together to support one another.
9. Constituent parts of the Scottish Administration and other relevant public service organisations should be able to demonstrate how they achieve these characteristics. They should also strive for continuous improvement around each characteristic, prioritising where change is necessary and clearly documenting the actions taken. The guidance, rather than specifying the process, is drawn from a philosophy of creating a Best Value regime and, as such, is descriptive rather than prescriptive. Each organisation is free to determine the route by which it intends to achieve Best Value and arrive at the identified goals. It is the outcome of these efforts that matters, and not the detail of the processes. Best Value should be appropriate to, and proportionate to, an organisation's priorities, operating environments and scale / nature of business and should be implemented accordingly.
10. A series of Toolkits and a Best Value Self Assessment Questionnaire accompany the Guidance, and public service organisations may find these helpful in securing Best Value.
Enquiries
11. Any enquiries on the content and application of this guidance should be addressed to the Scottish Executive's Best Value Team on 0131-244-7043; email: best.value@scotland.gsi.gov.uk .
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Page Published/ Updated: May 2006