Audit Commision Reports

Cumbria County CouncilCorporate ProcurementApril 2002© Audit Commission, 2002April 2002 Cumbria County Council – Corporate ProcurementBest valueThe Government has placed a duty of best value on local authorities to deliverservices to clear standards – of cost and quality – by the most economic, efficient1and effective means available. Best value is a challenging new performanceframework that requires authorities to publish annual best value performanceplans and review all of their services every five years.Authorities must show that they have applied the four Cs of best value to everyreview:! challenging why and how a service is being provided;! comparing their performance with others’ (including organisations in theprivate and voluntary sectors);! embracing fair competition as a means of securing efficient and effectiveservices; and! consulting with local taxpayers, customers and the wider businesscommunity.Authorities must demonstrate to local people that they are achieving continuousimprovement in all of their services. The Government has decided that eachcouncil should be scrutinised by an independent inspectorate, so that the publicwill know whether best value is being achieved. The purpose of the inspectionand of this report is to:! enable the public to see whether best value is being delivered;! enable the Council to see how well it is doing;! enable the Government to see how well its policies are working on theground;! identify ...