Contact: Michael Sherwood - Ext: 7332

1. Introduction

1.1. The Corporate Best Value Team was established in October 1999 to support the preparation and early implementation of Best Value in the County Council. It is currently based in the Policy Unit of the Chief Executive's Department and line managed by the Head of that Unit. Three senior managers were seconded for a two year period and have undertaken a variety of tasks connected with these overall objectives. As the Best Value Team's two year secondment period draws to an end, the Shadow Cabinet has proposed a way forward which will ensure a continuing approach to service development and improvement whilst keeping bureaucracy to a minimum. It also aims to broaden the emphasis on performance management and quality assurance across the Authority.

2. The Proposal

2.1. There are two key elements to Best Value, namely planning and performance management. The Policy Unit of the Chief Executive's Department has an existing responsibility for corporate planning and performance measurement and it is therefore considered logical to integrate all these activities permanently into that Unit. A new post is proposed within the Unit accountable for performance management across the County Council and that person's role will be to manage a small team and to liaise closely with departmental staff to deliver the statutory responsibilities under Best Value, maintain good practice, coordinate performance management, support the scrutiny role of Policy Review Committees, and encourage development of countywide standards and approaches to quality assurance.

3. Financial Implications

3.1. The current cost of the Corporate Best Value Team at outturn values for 2001/02 is £190,000 per annum and the cost of the new team would be within the existing budget allowance which would need to be permanently included in the base budget for the Policy Unit.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. That approval be given to consolidate the performance management and quality assurance function within the Policy Unit of the Chief Executive's Department.

2. That the budget allocation of £190,000 be included permanently within the base budget for the Policy Unit with effect from 1 October 2001.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1 Published works.

2 Documents which disclosure exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

5aR36901