Best Value in Local Government
The Scottish Executive and Scottish local government share a commitment to deliver better quality public services. Both have been working in partnership to develop the Best Value framework which aims to ensure that management and business practices in local authorities develop better and more responsive public services.
The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, placed a statutory duty of Best Value upon local authorites in the discharge of their functions. This system was agreed with COSLA following a series of Best Value pilots in local authorities in the late 1990's. Statutory guidance was issued to local authorities in 2004.
The audit of Best Value provides the first overview of a council's performance across services and is designed to identify and agree planned improvments with the authority. The Accounts commission (Audit Scotland) audits each local authority on a three yearly basis, however, audits to date have shown that the Commission is prepared to shorten or lengthen this cycle where they feel appropriate. Copies of the Best Value audits can be obtained from the Accounts Commission website.
The Public Performance Reporting Consultation was a consultation paper conducted in 2005 in relation to Ministers making regulations with respect to Section 13 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, on requirements for public performance reporting under Best Value.