§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received as a result of the consultation on best value from(a) local authorities, (b) contractors to local authorities, (c) trade unions and (d) others; if he will make a statement in respect of representations made by each of the above categories; and if he will place a copy of the representations received in the Library. [65246]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe consultation paper "Modernising local government—Improving services through best value" published on 3 March 1998 received 547 responses. A full list of those responding was placed in the House of Commons Library in July (refDEP 98/850), and the individual responses in the DETR Library. A summary of 51W the responses can be found on the Internet at: http://www/local.detr.gov.uk., and I have sent a paper copy to the hon. Member.
Of those responding, 404 were from local authorities; 9 from contractors; 3 from trade unions; and 131 from others including professional bodies. The responses demonstrated widespread support for our best value proposals.
A number of comments were also received following publication of the White Paper "Modern local government: In touch with the People" published on 30 July 1998 which included proposals on best value which were subsequently reflected in the Local Government Bill now before the House. These confirmed the broad range of support for best value from local authorities, the trade unions, and the private sector.
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Network Private sector partners ICE Best Value Taskforce Led by the Institution of Civil Engineers The main objective of the Taskforce is to draw on expertise in the private and public sectors to create a 'Definitive Guide to Best Practice in Advancing Best Value in the Built Environment' Amey Facilities Management Babtie Brophy Grounds Maintenance Brown and Root Buro Happolds Halcrow JDM Midlands Ltd. John Doyle Group Mills & Reeve Mott Macdonald Group Mouchel Consulting Ltd. Parkman Pell Frischmann Consulting Engineers Ringway Highways Services Ltd. Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick Tarmac Heavy Building Materials Thorburn Colqhoun TPS Consult WS Atkins Public Sector Plc. Led by BV Strategies The network will consider specific local authority projects to consider public Suppliers (private companies) private partnership options Bull Information Systems Onyx UK David Cross Leisure Manpower Thames Water Brophy Xerox Bank of Scotland Quintain Amec Associated Holdings Ltd. Professional and Advisory Group (private companies) Anthony Collins Solicitors KPMG Chelgate ABROS The Centre SCOTIA Payroll Partnership Network Led by Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council The proposal is to create a Pazrtnership Network with a private sector partner to KPMG secure best value in the operation of a combined payroll service The Hub Led by Barony Consulting and ICL The network plan to establish Local Franchise Partnerships with local Barony Consulting Ltd. authorities. One of the areas they will focus on is Housing Benefit ICL
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what involvement private contractors have in the ongoing pilot schemes for the local authority best value programme; if he will list the contractors concerned; and if he will make a statement. [65247]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe involvement of the private sector in the Best Value pilot programme takes a number of different forms and is one of the factors being evaluated by the Warwick Business School in the two year monitoring programme to be completed in the spring of 2000.
The private sector is more directly involved in the Best Value Partnership Network scheme announced in September 1998. Four involve private sector partners, two are led by the private sector, one by a professional body; and three by local authorities. The table lists the private contractors involved in each of these pilots.
53WTwo additional networks are led by local authorities. The 'Crossing the Boundaries' network currently consists of five authorities in the West Midlands who are exploring cross boundary collaboration between trading standards departments. The 'North Yorkshire Audit Partnership' consists of three local authorities who are working in partnership for the provision of Internal Audit services through a consortiums approach.