See the New Statutory Guidance on Best Value

To download the Best Value Statutory Guidance click here.

The guidance states that Government is acting to "remove barriers to more open and efficient local public services by freeing local authorities from targets, prescription and duties". It suggests they wish to encourage public agencies and civil society to collaborate more, including opening up opportunities for greater involvement from the voluntary and community sector and small businesses in running public services.

Guidance on workforce matters which formed part of the Best Value regime has already been revoked, specifically the Handling of workforce matters in contracting and the Code of practice on workforce matters in local authority service contracts ('the two tier code'). Government has also revoked the statutory guidance and banner statement of Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities, within which was general Best Value guidance on commissioning. They further plan to repeal the last two main remaining statutory duties covered in that guidance, namely the "Duty to Involve" and the "Duty to Prepare a Sustainable Community Strategy".

It is claimed that the changes will allow greater flexibility to exercise "appropriate discretion in considering the circumstances of individual cases", with the new short statutory guidance on the Best Value Duty laying out "some reasonable expectations of the way authorities should work with voluntary and community groups and small businesses when facing difficult funding decisions".

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