Contact: Jenny Heath, Corporate Performance Manager, ext. 7402

1 Purpose

1.1 The purpose of this report is to:

· seek Member approval of the attached outcome reports for the Best Value reviews of:

· Transport Management

· Registration Services

· agree the recommendations to be made to the Executive Leader, in order that the outcomes are implemented through the accompanying Improvement Plan

· seek agreement to the mechanisms for future monitoring of the Improvement Plan

· identify any issues to be referred to the Cabinet

· agree outcomes that should be reported in the Best Value Performance Plan.

2 Background

2.1 These reviews are part of year 2 of the five-year programme of reviews amended and agreed by the Best Value and Performance Sub-Committee on 9 October 2000.

2.2 The attached outcome reports include the following elements:

· Outcome report - a narrative report based on the format recommended in the Toolkit

· Improvement plan - a table showing key outcomes, performance targets, actions, costs and timescales.

2.3 Members should consider the outcome reports attached within the wider context of the Best Value review programme and services provided by the County Council, particularly when considering outcomes that may have a financial or operational impact on other services.

3 Challenging the Outcome Report

3.1 Before approving the outcome report for each service review, the Committee must challenge it to ensure that the Best Value process has been rigorously applied. The Committee should consider whether the review has:

· met national and local requirements

· met its objectives as set out in the project brief

· identified all the possible options for service improvement

· considered all the advantages and disadvantages of each option

· identified sufficient evidence to support the recommended option(s)

· addressed the concerns of the community and members

· an improvement plan that, if implemented, will deliver targeted, measurable and continuous improvement in service delivery

4 Issues to be referred to Cabinet

4.1 Are there any issues which cut across departmental or organisational boundaries, which would be better reviewed as a whole?

4.2 Are any of the review outcomes significant enough for referral?

4.3 Has the review process identified any learning points which should be referred?

4.4 Are there any proposed changes to the review programme?

5 Recommendations to the Executive Leader for implementation

5.1 What recommendations should be made to the Executive Leader for implementation?

6 Outcomes for inclusion in the Best Value Performance Plan

6.1 What outcomes should be reported in the next Best Value Performance Plan?

7 Information provided to support the report

7.1 Each report should contain sufficient evidence to support its conclusions and recommendations. Further evidence may be held on the review working files which members may inspect on request. Members may identify gaps in the evidence and ask for additional evidence to be provided.

Recommendations

It is recommended that:

1 The outcome reports for the Best Value reviews of Transport Management and Registration Services are agreed for referral to the Executive Leader, noting the particular proposals in respect of the registration service, as follows:

· That consultations take place with staff with a view to restructuring the Registration Service to a single registration district, and appropriate recommendation being made to the Registrar General.

· That consultations take place with staff and the public in regard to the rationalisation of offices and the closure of specific offices that fall below minimum standards.

· That a programme of improvements is planned and implemented for remaining offices to ensure they meet required standards including accessibility, maintenance and decoration, waiting areas, reception facilities and IT links/provision.

· That legislative changes be recommended to Central Government in regard to service delivery methods outlined in option 4 (see report at Appendix 2), should the Government's report on the national review of the registration service not cover these issues.

2 A summary of the reviews are prepared in the standard format for inclusion in the Best Value Performance Plan.

3 A copy of the above summary and the Improvement Plan are provided to the Executive Leader to effect implementation of the review outcomes.

4 Arrangements are made for the Policy and Resources Policy Review Committee to receive an annual progress report on the Improvement Plans, to be considered in each January, starting from 2003, to facilitate future reporting in the Best Value Performance Plan.

Section 100D - 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.

Records of the Best Value review team meetings and working papers of the Best Value Review, held by the Review Team Leaders.

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

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