LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND Citation and commencement and interpretation 1 1 This Order may be cited as the Local Government (Best Value) Performance Plans and Reviews Order 1999 and shall come into force on 4th January 2000. 2 In this Order– “ the Act ” means the Local Government Act 1999; “relevant Audit Commission indicators” means the indicators specified in Schedule 1 to this Order which are listed and defined in the “Publication of Information Direction 1998” issued by the Audit Commission in December 1998 in accordance with the provisions of section 44 and 46 of the Audit Commission Act 1998 ; “best value performance indicators” means the factors by reference to which a best value authority’s performance in exercising a function can be measured, as specified from time to time by an Order made under section 4 of the Act or as specified by a best value authority in accordance with any guidance issued from time to time under section 5(6)(a) of the Act; “best value performance standard” means the minimum acceptable level of service provision which must be met by a best value authority in the exercise of a function and measured by reference to a performance indicator for that function, as specified from time to time by an Order made under section 4 of the Act; “best value performance target” means the level of performance in the exercise of a function that a best value authority is expected to attain, measured by reference to the performance indicator in relation to that function, as specified by a best value authority, in accordance with any guidance issued under sections 5(6)(b) and 5(7) of the Act. Application 2 1 This order applies– a in relation to England, to all best value authorities; b in relation to Wales, only to authorities falling within section 1(1)(d) or (e) of the Act (police and fire authorities). Content of best value performance plans for the financial year 2000 3 1 Best value authorities must include the following matters in their best value performance plans for the financial year 2000– a a summary of the authority’s objectives in relation to the exercise of its functions; b a summary of any assessment made by the authority of the level at which, and the way in which, it exercises its functions; c a statement specifying any period within which the authority is required to review its functions under section 5 of the Act and articles 5 and 6 of this Order; d a statement indicating the timetable the authority proposes to follow in conducting a best value review; e a statement specifying any best value performance indicators, best value performance standards and best value performance targets specified or set in relation to the authority’s functions; f a summary of the authority’s assessment of its performance in the previous financial year with regard to the relevant Audit Commission indicators, where applicable; g a comparison of that performance with the authority’s performance in previous financial years. Content of best value performance plans for the financial year 2001 and each financial year thereafter 4 1 Best value authorities must include in their best value performance plan for the financial year 2001 and each financial year thereafter, all the matters specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of article 3 of this Order and in paragraph (2) below. 2 The matters referred to in paragraph (1) above are– a a summary of the authority’s assessment of its performance in the previous financial year with regard to best value performance indicators, where applicable; b a comparison of that performance with the authority’s performance in previous financial years; c a comparison of the authority’s performance as summarised in accordance with paragraph (a) above, with the performance of other best value authorities in previous financial years; d a summary of its assessment of its success in meeting any best value performance standard which applied at any time in the previous financial year; e a summary of its assessment of its progress towards meeting any best value performance standard which has been specified but which does not yet apply; f a summary of its assessment of its progress towards meeting any best value performance target; g a summary of any plan of action to be taken in the financial year to which the plan relates for the purposes of meeting a best value performance target; h a summary of the basis on which any best value performance target was set, and any plan of action was determined, in relation to a function reviewed under section 5 of the Act and articles 5 and 6 of this Order, in the previous financial year. Preparation of best value reviews—Period of reviews 5 1 Best value authorities other than fire authorities must conduct the first best value review of all their functions by 31st March 2005. 2 Fire authorities must conduct the first best value review of– a their communication and control functions by 31st March 2001; b their procurement functions by 31st March 2002; c their training functions by 31st March 2003; d all their other functions by 31st March 2005. 3 Best value authorities must conduct a further best value review of all their functions by 31st March 2010 and thereafter by the end of each successive period of five years (ending on 31st March 2015, 31st March 2020 and so on). 4 In this article– “fire authority” means– a fire authority constituted by a combination scheme; a metropolitan county fire and civil defence authority; the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority; a county council acting as the fire authority for its area under the provisions of section 4 of the Fire Services Act 1947 . “procurement functions” means the securing by fire authorities of such equipment as may be necessary to meet efficiently all normal requirements for the discharge of their duties, as set out in section 1 of the Fire Services Act 1947; “communication and control functions” means securing efficient arrangements for dealing with calls for the assistance of the fire brigade and for summoning members of the fire brigade, as mentioned in section 1(1)(c) of the Fire Services Act 1947; “training functions” means securing the efficient training of members of the fire brigade as mentioned in section 1(1)(b) of the Fire Services Act 1947. Content of best value reviews 6 1 In conducting a best value review, a best value authority shall:– a consider whether it should be exercising the function; b consider the level at which, and the way in which, it should be exercising the function; c consider its objectives in relation to the exercise of the function; d assess its performance in exercising the function by reference to any best value performance indicator specified for the function; e assess the competitiveness of its performance in exercising the function by reference to the exercise of the same function, or similar functions, by other best value authorities and by commercial and other businesses, including organisations in the voluntary sector; f consult other best value authorities, commercial and other businesses, including organisations in the voluntary sector, about the exercise of the function; g assess its success in meeting any best value performance standard which applies in relation to the function; h assess its progress towards meeting any relevant best value performance standard which has been specified but which does not yet apply; i assess its progress towards meeting any relevant best value performance target. Signed by authority of the Secretary of State Hilary Armstrong Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions 7th December 1999