SUMMARY/PURPOSE
1. To recommend to Full Council the adoption of the Best Value
Performance Plan for 2003/04 which includes the annual national and local
Performance Indicator results.
BACKGROUND
2. The Best Value Performance Plan, which is required by law to be produced by 30th June each year sets out the details of our performance as a council based on national indicators set by the ODPM (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) and local indicators which are agreed by the Council.
3. There have been changes in the requirement of the plan with a general reduction of content. The main focus of the plan is now our annual performance out-turn and the government now has different requirements of how much has to be reported by individual authorities based on their Comprehensive Performance Assessment score. If the Council was to be assessed as a “good” authority in the next inspection, only statistical data will need to be produced.
4. The government has conceded that the Best Value Performance Plan is not the vehicle to communicate the council’s performance to the public but should be used as an internal document to inform Members and officers. The requirement remains, however, to publish the plan in libraries, contact points and on the internet and to produce a household summary each March.
5. A draft plan, which conforms to the statutory requirements has been produced and circulated to members of the Executive, and placed in members rooms. Copies are available from http://www.iwight.com/council/documents/best_value/ . Hard copies can be obtained from Brigitte Hawkins, Policy Officer - 823297 or [email protected].
STRATEGIC CONTEXT
6. The production of the Best Value Performance Plan is a legislative requirement to produce a document providing information of the council’s annual performance and future targets to members, officers and central government.
CONSULTATION
6. Heads
of Service and their staff have supplied the information within this report and
the Performance Plan with Directors being fully consulted on the content.
External consultation has not been necessary for this report.
FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
7. The
recommendation to adopt the report does not carry any budget implications, the
cost of printing and distribution being met from existing budget allocation.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
8. It
is a requirement of the Local Government Act 1999 to produce a Best Value
Performance Plan, following prescribed content, by 30th June, each
year. The Best Value Performance Plan is part of the Policy Framework, listed
in Article 4 of the Constitution. Approval, on recommendation from the
Executive, is reserved to Full Council.
OPTIONS
9.
There is a requirement to publish a Best Value Performance Plan and the
contents are largely prescribed. There is therefore little discretion other
than to recommend to Full Council that the draft Plan be adopted.
EVALUATION/RISK MANAGEMENT
10. Best
Value legislation requires the Council to produce, publish and adopt an annual
performance plan. The main risks associated with the plan is “qualification” of
the Plan by the Audit Commission due to substantive omissions in the plan,
failure to publish it on time or a high number of errors found in the audit of
the performance indicators
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RECOMMENDATIONS 11. That
the Portfolio Holder recommend the adoption of the draft Best Value
Performance Plan to Full Council |
BACKGROUND PAPERS
Draft
Best Value Performance Plan, Best Value Performance Plan 2003/04, Local
Government Act 1999, Circular 03/2003, Guidance on Best Value Performance Plans
(Addendum to Circular 03/2003), Completed Performance Indicator Pro - formas
Contact Point: Heidi Marshall, Principal Policy
Officer, Corporate Policy and Communications. Tel 823250 email [email protected]
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J BENTLEY Head of Policy and
Communications |
P HARRIS Deputy Leader |