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Best Value – 2 years on Caroline Gardner Deputy Auditor General

Best Value – 2 years on Caroline Gardner Deputy Auditor General. The context. Modernising government & public service reform A new Parliament ~ new systems & relationships Strategic direction of new Accounts Commission Modernising public audit Better public services.

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Best Value – 2 years on Caroline Gardner Deputy Auditor General

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  1. Best Value – 2 years onCaroline GardnerDeputy Auditor General

  2. The context • Modernising government & public service reform • A new Parliament ~ new systems & relationships • Strategic direction of new Accounts Commission • Modernising public audit • Better public services

  3. Best Value – more than 2 years on ….. • Local Govt Act 1994 – duty to have regard to 3 E’s • Best Value actually introduced in 1997 • The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 • Links to Efficient Government agenda

  4. The Local Government Act 2003 • Best Value ~ continuous improvement ~ 3 E’s , equal opps & sustainability • Public performance reporting and accountability • Community Planning ~ duty across public sector • New Power to Advance Well-being • Ministerial and Statutory Guidance • A “descriptive not prescriptive” regime

  5. B.V. Characteristics in Statutory Guidance • Commitment & leadership • Responsiveness & consultation • Sound governance (strategic, financial & operational) • Sound management of resources • Use of review and options appraisal • Competitiveness, trading and discharge of functions • Sustainable development (social, economic and environmental impact) • Equal opportunities arrangements • Joint working • Accountability (public reporting)

  6. What do we want the Audit to achieve? • Provide independent assurance for citizens on a council’s response to the LGiS Act 2003 • Contribute to a council’s efforts to improve service performance for local people • Publish more integrated reports ~ a rounded picture • Emphasise importance of elected members • Collaborate with the Auditor General on Best Value across the rest of the public sector

  7. Main features of the BV audit • Local context • Cyclical • Corporate focus – all services • Emphasis on performance & improvement • Specialist team, with local auditor • Draw on other scrutiny processes • Selective tailored approach • Published report • No single score or label, no league table

  8. Progress on the LG audit programme Angus Dundee Moray North Ayrshire East Renfrewshire Highland Shetland Argyll & Bute Stirling Glasgow Inverclyde West Lothian Eilean Siar, West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire

  9. Best Value in the best councils ….. • Doing it for the right reasons • Effective leadership – political and managerial • Good corporate management • Systematic performance management • A focus on key priorities, communities & customers • A culture of improvement is crucial

  10. Things that need to be addressed….. • Avoid the compliance culture • Poor information on performance • Weak links between policies, strategies, service plans & resources • Implementing national priorities in a local context • Lack of balanced and accurate public reporting • Scrutiny, challenge and options appraisal • The challenge of joint / integrated working

  11. Performance Mgt – Current Picture Councils have been slow to develop systematic performance management arrangements which provide a comprehensive picture of performance across all services. Public performance reporting is generally weak and tends to focus on positive messages. • SPIs dominate in a number of Councils • Improvements in monitoring service developments / projects • Day to day activities still weak in many areas

  12. Corporate PPR approach Stronger Info on services provided and access Info on joint working to meet community needs Trends and comparisons Consultation results and how council will respond Spending, VfM, reducing waste, priorities Performance improvement, impact, future targets Allowing stakeholders a clear view of overall performance Systematic approach across whole council Weaker

  13. PPR in services Stronger Info on charges, eligibility, access, etc. Key stakeholders identified Service standards Concise and understandable presentation BV Review, PMP, EFQM results included Equality issues addressed Best means to communicate identified Info on meeting key objectives

  14. PPR in services Info on meeting user needs Costs, efficiency and VfM Continuous improvement processes Consultation results and how they will be used Whether previous performance improvement targets met Targets for future performance improvement Trend information to show how service is changing Showing how service compares with others Weaker

  15. Contact cgardner@audit-scotland.gov.uk Audit Scotland110 George StreetEdinburgh Tel. 0131 477 1234Fax. 0131 477 4567

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