Food & Health Alliance

The Scottish Government aims to create a clearer, simpler and more effective public sector, freeing local agencies and front-line workers to focus on delivering public services for the people of Scotland. In doing so it is recognised that public services need to make the best use of public money, and focus on helping the government achieve its overarching purpose and strategic objectives.

Best Value principles underpin the operation of public service organisations and are a key component of the public service reform agenda in Scotland. It is a central, enduring foundation for continuous improvement across the public sector.

The essential ‘elements’ of a ‘Best Value’ approach are:

• ‘Sound governance’, including a focus on the needs and views of both immediate ‘customers’ and the broader body of citizens, good strategic management, good day today management of services and proper financial management.
• Performance measurement and monitoring of all services, including ‘benchmarking’ by comparing quality and costs with other providers (included other councils and other potential providers), and the development of public performance reporting (the publication of results).
• Continuous improvement. Councils must be able to demonstrate that they are building pressure for continuous improvement into their services.
• Budgeting ahead for three years, not just one.

At one level some of this just requires councils to have good management in place and be able to prove that they have. But at another level, it demands a greater focus on users, and the quality of services, as well as on effectiveness and outcomes. The framework states the principles of:

• Ownership. Everyone with an interest or a stake in a public service should have some degree of involvement or ownership.
• Transparency. Councils’ decisions must be open and clear.
• Accountability. Councils are required to give good quality information with which to demonstrate their performance to the public.

COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) issued guidance on how to build a concern for ‘equalities issues’ into a Best Value framework. Its advice includes:

• Equalities issues should be reflected in strategic objectives and highlighted within service plans.
• The whole community should be consulted in formulating policy, in setting service standards and targets, and in reviewing services.
• Equalities performance measures and targets are identified and are reported to the public through public performance reporting.
• Purchasing and employment policies, etc. should be in line with a commitment to equal opportunities.

The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 introduced a statutory duty on councils ‘to make arrangements which secure best value’, which was defined as ‘continuous improvement in the performance of the authority’s functions’ and as requiring ‘appropriate balance among the quality of its performance, the cost to the authority … and the cost to [service users]’.

The audit of Best Value provides the first overview of a council's performance across services and is designed to identify and agree planned improvments with the authority. The Accounts commission (Audit Scotland) audits each local authority on a three yearly basis, however, audits to date have shown that the Commission is prepared to shorten or lengthen this cycle where they feel appropriate. Copies of the Best Value audits can be obtained from the Accounts Commission website.

Other public bodies like health boards, all ‘non-departmental public bodies’ and the Scottish Government itself are also expected by the Government ‘to have regard to the essential elements of Best Value as it is developing in local government, to learn lessons and apply good practice’. This has been made compulsory for the ‘Accountable Officers’ in each agency, using other existing statutory powers.

Elements and principles of Best Value could be used to inform the development and review of local physical activity strategies and actions implemented within a local authorities and NHS Boards.