Contact: Katie Crabb, ext 7911 or by e-mail [email protected]

1 Purpose of the Review

This Best Value Review of Community Engagement is a cross-cutting review and Phase 1 will concentrate on the consultation aspects of Community Engagement. This review is in direct response by the Council to issues raised as areas for improvement which were identified in the 2002 CPA Improvement Plan. As agreed by Cabinet in December 2003 the initial review will respond to the recommendations from the Corporate Assessment (CPA) Team. These were:

In order to make best use of consultation with users and stakeholders, and to ensure that consultees' views are both respected and seen to be respected, the Council should:

ensure that it consults all relevant stakeholders over strategies, policies, and priorities early enough to enable the results of consultation to influence outcomes, and make better use of established consultation mechanisms.

1.1 The statutory responsibilities for consultation can be found in the Local Government Act 1999 Chapter c.27 - The general duty. This states that a best value authority must make arrangements to secure continuous improvement, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. For the purpose of deciding how to fulfil this duty an authority must consult. The act then lists the representatives of persons which should be consulted.

1.2 This Best Value review programme is a key element in supporting Corporate Strategy aim 5 - Improving services, with particular reference to the theme of improving our performance.

2 Performance

2.1 A visioning statement has been agreed and also consideration has been given as to what and how the vision will be achieved.

2.2 This review will address the principles of Best Value and will look at how the 4'cs compare, consult, challenge, compete will be applied during two half day workshops which have been arranged in June.

2.3 This review should be completed in the Autumn which will be in time to satisfy the Audit Commission's CPA refresh at the end of the year.

3 Outcomes sought

3.1 The outcome of this review is to achieve the vision by creating `A process by which we listen to what you say, valuing what you tell us, using this to inform our decisions'.

3.2 The following lists the issues that were identified which the review should address:

_ Greater coordination of consultation across the organisation

_ Timely and effective dissemination of findings across the whole organisation

_ Employing the principles of best practice to all consultation undertaken

_ Using the information to ensure the organisation has the customer at the heart of its policy making

_ Central team to coordinate consultation activity

_ Gather research and information at a local level to inform and guide all members in their constituencies

_ Look at good practice in other organisations, both public and private sector

_ Informing the public how the information is being used and what we are doing as a result of their participation in the consultation process

4 Members

4.1 The following members were invited to participate in this phase of the review:

_ Councillor Dash

_ Councillor Davidovitz

_ Councillor Ellis

_ Councillor Roberts

5 Review details

5.1 At this stage it is estimated that the review will take 120 person days at a cost of £219 per day totalling £26,280 and incur additional direct costs of approximately £4,000.

Recommendation

That the Best Value review of Community Engagement proceeds in accordance with the approach and timetable outlined in the attached project brief

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

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