Local Government Reform - Consultation on Policy Proposals

framework would also enable Ministers, through the Department of
the Environment, to:
• issue guidance on the delivery of continuous improvement;
• set performance indicators and standards for the delivery of
services; and
• intervene in a council’s delivery of a service if its performance
falls below acceptable standards.
Revised Best Value Duty
5.5. The Department proposes that the current best value provisions
should be replaced and that:
• councils should be required to secure best value, which will be
described in terms of the continuous improvement of the
council’s performance of its functions;
• councils, in securing best value, should be expected to maintain
an appropriate balance between the quality of performance of
their functions, the cost of performing those functions, and the
cost to persons of any services provided on a wholly or partly
rechargeable basis;
• in maintaining that balance, councils should be required to have
regard to efficiency, effectiveness, economy and equity;
• councils should be required to discharge their duties in a way
which contributes to the achievement of sustainable
development; and
• councils should have regard to outcomes when measuring
improvement in their performance.
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