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Best value inspection in Wales
The Local Government Act 1999 subjects local authorities, police and fire authorities to a duty to make arrangements for the achievement of best value in the performance of their functions.
What is best value?
Best value is a challenging performance framework placed on local authorities by central government. From 1 April 2000 all local authorities in England and Wales have a duty to plan to provide their services under the principles of best value - and to implement those plans.
For more information see the Audit Commission Inspection Service website.
Are there any differences in Wales?
In July 2000 the Audit Commission published Best Value Inspection in Wales on behalf of the Wales Inspectorate Forum:
The forum is composed of representatives of the Social Services Inspectorate for Wales, Estyn, Her Majesty's Fire Inspectorate, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Audit Commission's Audit Commission Inspection Service, as well as representatives from the National Assembly for Wales, Syniad, the Welsh Local Government Association, District Audit and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The publication is an indication of the 'joined up' approach to inspection being adopted in Wales by the Wales Inspectorate Forum, which has acknowledged the importance of having a shared and coherent approach to best value inspection. The key elements of inspection in Wales are broadly the same as those in England (see the Audit Commission Inspection Service website).
The statutory duty of best value applies equally to authorities in Wales and those in England; however secondary legislation and guidance from the National Assembly for Wales shape the framework.
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