Since 1 April, 2000, the Local Government Act 1999 has required local authorities in England (and from 1 June, 2000 local authorities in Wales) to adopt ‘best value’ principles in the delivery of services. In Scotland the same result has been achieved by relieving those local authorities that adopt best value policies from the legislative requirements relating to compulsory competitive tendering.
Best value means using a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness to secure continuous improvement in the way in which services are delivered. The 1999 Act allows the Secretary of State to prescribe performance indicators and performance standards and obliges each local authority to conduct periodic reviews (involving extensive public consultation) on whether it ought to be performing individual functions and the way in which they are performed and to prepare annual best value performance plans.
