RRF DATABASE - THIRD PARTY REPORTS - BEST VALUE

Here are some useful public domain reports on the Best Value concept, which you may find of interest. If, on the other hand, you want to learn more about the Forum's own studies, then follow this link.

• Working with others to achieve Best Value Section 16 of the Local Government Act 1999 - A consultation paper on changes to the legal framework to facilitate partnership working (March 2001. UK Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (0.2MB)

The UK Government wishes to ensure that Best Value authorities are able to consider a wide range of options as to how they deliver best value, including those which involve acting in partnership with others. The current legal framework for partnership working restricts the options in a number of ways. It can create barriers to joint working, leave unclear the basis under which new structures are created and limit the way in which authorities can assist others through the provision of goods and services.

The Government plans to remove these legal barriers to ensure that innovative partnerships with the private, voluntary and public sectors are encouraged whenever it is sensible to do so. The proposals in this consultation paper are designed for this purpose. Creating the right legal framework is a necessary step in equipping Best Value authorities with the powers to shape the future provision of services. But it is not sufficient in itself. Local government, as with much of the public sector, also needs to build the capacity to use these new powers imaginatively and with proper regard for propriety and local accountability.

That is why the Government have together with the Local Government Association commissioned Sir Ian Byatt to lead a Task Force to review commissioning and procurement capacity in local government: it reports in May this year. Similarly, the Government is currently discussing details of a Research and Development Programme which will support Service Delivery Partnerships between local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors, using the new management arrangements and new structures which the proposals in this paper make possible.

• No further studies in this folder