Document Gap analysis and Action Plan resulting from the self-assessment against the Best Value guidance

The Committee was asked to note the outcome of the Council’s self-assessment against the guidance on the Best Value Duty which was one of the workstreams arising from the non-statutory Best Value Notice response programme.

Members recalled that under the Local Government Act 1999, local authorities must legally deliver what was termed ‘Best Value’.  In practice, this meant that a Council had to demonstrate and evidence that it had suitable arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions were exercised, and having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.   

By way of background, Officers explained that the previous Government had consulted with the sector in 2023 in order to develop guidance to provide greater clarity on how to fulfil the Best Value Duty by describing what constituted best value, the standards expected  and the models of intervention that could be used in the event of failure to uphold these standards. 

Members noted that there were seven themes identified in the guidance that together delivered continuous improvement.  These were: leadership, governance, culture, use of resources, service delivery, partnerships and community engagement. 

Officers advised that in response to the non-statutory Best Value Notice, one of the workstreams was to perform a self-assessment against the guidance to reflect and identify areas of strength as well as areas for improvement to demonstrate and evidence the Council’s self-awareness and continuous improvement.  

Members were asked to note the outcome of the exercise which had involved significant and comprehensive work from Officers from across the organisation to assess the Council’s position against the Best Value guidance.  Officers cautioned that at the time work commenced, the guidance was still in draft and the final guidance post-consultation was not published until May when the majority of work to evidence the Council’s position had completed.  However, the changes to the guidance had been taken into account in the assessment.

Officers confirmed that the process was designed robustly to deliver the self-assessment.   

Officers in the Project Management Office prepared an initial draft narrative for each of the 73 characteristics of a well-functioning authority that was described in the guidance for each of the 7 themes.  Officers reported that several workshop events had taken place to complement the evidence amassed for each element and signpost to other documentation or Officers in order to gather further information.   

It was explained that Officers who had not been involved in the development of the narratives for each characteristic were identified, with their role to review the position statement, sample the evidence, assign a score and provide a commentary on the justification for that score, including any gaps or additional areas to address.  Members agreed this was important to ensure an impartial and independent review.  In terms of process, another round of input was then carried out by the Project Management Office based on the feedback provided by reviewers. 

Officers reported that all 73 position statements had been reviewed and some scores had been amended to ensure consistency in the scores given which provided a second impartial and independent review.  The Committee noted that the last stage of the process involved the Assistant Chief Executives conducting a final assessment of the narrative and scores.

Officers highlighted the heat-map generated from the scores given for each characteristic by theme. 

The Committee noted that there was a mix of colours scored across each and every theme and agreed this validated the approach taken and the rigour taken in the scoring process.

Members noted that areas of strength and confidence were indicated by green scores, whilst yellow or amber represented where there was still work to be done.   

Members were content that the majority colour of the heat-map was light green indicating broad alignment with the Best Value duty.  In addition, Officers had taken the opportunity to identify extra areas of improvement to further enhance Best Value.  This was welcomed by the Committee.

It was satisfying to note that no one theme was entirely yellow or amber and that yellow could usually be applied to new or planned work.

Officers updated the Committee in respect of one amber scored characteristic which could be regarded as green now that OfLOG had delivered some webinars, for example on waste management.

Officers confirmed that two elements were classed as grey because they were outside Officers’ control.  These pertained to appetite in moving to all out elections and an assessment of working relationships between political groups.  Members noted that a decision on all out elections (L009) had not yet been made and that this would be considered in due course by the Constitution Member Working Party, the Corporate Management Committee and full Council thereafter.

Members reviewed the action plan arising from the self-assessment exercise. 

It was confirmed that any actions identified would be added to the business planning tool as in-year activity assigned to the relevant service area to deliver.  This would be followed up with the relevant Corporate Head of Service to provide progress updates in line with standard reporting procedures. 

The Committee welcomed its role to ensure that the action plan arising from the self-assessment was progressed and delivered in a timely manner, and a follow-up report would be submitted in January 2025.  Members noted that the exercise and scoring would be repeated in 2025, to provide a similar heat map at that point to further demonstrate self-awareness and direction of travel. 

Officers agreed to provide the Chair with a copy of the background detail in respect of SD006 and the conclusion drawn of ‘no gaps identified’.

Officers were thanked for their report and the considerable amount of work undertaken so far and looked forward to progress reports as proposed.