Archived decisions
1. Under the Local Government Act 1999, specified bodies are required to comply with the general duty of Best Value, which is defined as making arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which their functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
2. The Authority is required to prepare and publish annually a Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP), which summarises the Authority's assessments of its performance and position in relation to Best Value. The Authority is responsible for preparing the BVPP and for the information and assessments that are set out within it, and the assumptions and estimates on which they are based. It is also responsible for putting in place appropriate performance management and internal control systems, from which the information and assessments in the BVPP are derived.
3. The District Auditor is required to consider and report on whether the Authority has complied with statutory requirements in respect of the preparation and publication of its BVPP. This work includes a detailed follow up of progress against recommendations made in the first BVPP Audit and an assessment of overall progress in relation to Best Value.
4. The District Auditor found that the BVPP was again well presented, with some significant enhancements compared with last year's document. However, he found that, whilst the BVPP was largely compliant with legislation and statutory guidance, it omitted the 2000/01 forecast performance for seven specific indicators, which were not required for 2001/02, although he recognised that the omission of 2000/01 figures was in error and due to a misinterpretation of the guidance with no intention to mislead.
5. The Authority has acknowledged this comment about the guidance which was similarly misinterpreted by a significant number of Police Authorities and the omission has been addressed by the inclusion of these indicators in this year's Annual Report which is combined with the Best Value Performance Plan/Annual Policing Plan update. Consequently, the District Auditor has issued an unqualified opinion on the Plan except for this omission.
6. The District Auditor's report has been published, together with the Authority's statement responding to the statutory recommendations outlined in the report and explaining the actions that the Authority intends to take, and can be found alongside the full Best Value Performance Plan in public libraries, information points and on the Hampshire Police Authority and Hampshire Constabulary websites. Additionally, the Authority has agreed that the action plan version of the report setting out the response of the Authority be placed in this year's Annual Report.
7. A copy of the Annual Report will be circulated to all Members of the County Council in due course.
4iR960801