Contact: Jenny Heath, ext: 7402 Email: [email protected].

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

· That Cabinet approve appendix one as the Council's Value for Money Strategy.

· That Cabinet approve appendix two as the Council's (Best Value) review programme for 2006/07 and its publication in the statutory update of the Performance Plan on 30 June 20056

2 Reasons for the recommendations

2.1 Value for Money is a key element in the CPA Use of Resources block. Having a strategy will enable the Council to provide evidence of its approach as well as informing staff and Members and supporting the development of the Corporate Business Plan.

2.2 The Council is under a statutory obligation to maintain a programme of Best Value reviews, covering all its functions. The review programme ensures that existing services are fundamentally challenged, both in the way they are provided and whether they should be provided at all.

2.3 These documents contribute directly to the Corporate Strategy aim of `Improving Services' both by identifying ways to improve services and by considering the most economic, effective and efficient ways of doing so.

3 Other options considered and rejected

None.

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker, or member or officer consulted

None

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

Not applicable

6 Reason for matter being dealt with, if urgent

Not applicable

Approved by: Date: