Archived decisions

Contact: Tim Cheesebrough/Peter Bayless, ext 7114/6882

1. Summary

1.1 The County Council undertook a Best Value Review of its Road Safety Services of Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity and Safety Auditing in 2000, with the Outcome Reports presented to the former Best Value Panel (Planning and Transportation) on 19 January 2001 and the former Planning and Transportation Committee on 2 April 2001. Subsequent to the consideration of the Outcome Reports, the Audit Commission's Best Value Inspectorate conducted an independent Desktop Audit into the services and the review of them, reporting in July 2001.

1.2 This report updates the Service Improvement (Action) Plans for the two aspects of the County Council's Road Safety Services, advises Members of the findings of the Best Value Inspectorate Desktop Audit and updates the Road Safety service elements of the County Council's Best Value Performance Plan, to be published in March 2002.

2. Best Value Inspectorate Desktop Audit Findings

2.1 The Audit Commission's Best Value Inspectorate conducted a Desktop Audit of the County Council's Road Safety Services in the spring of 2001. This followed the Best Value Review of the Education, Training and Publicity and Safety Auditing Services as undertaken by the County Council in 2000, reporting early in 2001. The Desktop Audit comprised a detailed inspection of the review documentation, followed by a site visit on 14 May 2001. The Best Value Inspectorate reported in July 2001.

2.2 The key findings of the Desktop Audit (attached as Appendix A) were that:

(i) Hampshire County Council appears to provide a good road safety service to the public which is well respected both internally and externally;

(ii) there is clear evidence of improvement and innovation. However, there is a lack of evidence to show how the service compares with elsewhere and further work is needed;

(iii) since the 1980s there has been a significant reduction in the severity of road casualties and a less significant reduction in the total number of casualties in Hampshire. The benefit of these reductions is enormous at about £160 million in each year, as compared to £941,000 (revenue programme) spent by the County Council on road safety;

(iv) this expenditure is relatively small compared to the potential benefits. However, it has not been demonstrated how much of the total benefit of £160 million per annum has been the result of road safety services provided by the County Council. The challenge of proving the effectiveness of the service is not easy but should be taken up; and

(v) the Improvement Plan should result in steady improvement, but is unlikely to bring about a step change. However, it should provide a good foundation for further improvement in the future.

The County Council's response to the key recommendations of the Best Value Inspectorate is attached as Appendix B.

3. Monitoring and Update of the Service Improvement (Action) Plan

3.1 Appendices C and D of this report update the Service Improvement (Action) Plans for the Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity and Safety Auditing Services, taking account of the following:

(i) progress in implementing the key Service Improvement (Action) points contained in the Outcome Reports presented to the former Best Value Panel (Planning and Transportation) in January 2001; and

(ii) amendments, as appropriate, to take account of the findings of the Best Value Inspectorate Desktop Audit report.

3.2 Appendix E of this report contains the draft contribution to the County Council's Best Value Performance Plan to be published in March 2002, concerning the above services.

Recommendations

1. That the findings of the Best Value Inspectorate's Desktop Audit of the County Council's Road Safety Services be welcomed.

2. That the changes and updating of the Service Improvement (Action) Plans for the County Council's Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity and Safety Auditing services be endorsed.

3. That the updated content of the County Council's Best Value Performance Plan concerning road safety services be submitted to the County Council for approval.

6872/TLC/PDB