§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what effect the introduction of Best Value has had on the quantity of public tenders for local authority services; and if he will make a statement. [139424]
§ Ms Beverley HughesInformation on local authority contracts is not held centrally. Best Value has introduced a competitive requirement into all local government services and contrasts with Compulsory Competitive Tendering which applied to a limited range of services only.
Best Value has encouraged changes in the way in which services are procured. Authorities are increasingly looking to develop strategic partnerships with the private sector and others to deliver efficient high-quality services, and a number of such agreements have been announced recently. We would expect this trend to intensify, accompanied by some retrenchment in the number of contracts of the type which were characteristic of CCT.
We have also asked Sir Ian Byatt to head a Task Force to consider the state of commissioning and procurement in local government, and he will report by the end of May next year on the practical steps that might be taken to help authorities develop the market for services and achieve best value from their procurement.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement in respect of the implementation of Best Value. [139712]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Audit Commission reviewed local authorities' first year experience of Best Value Performance Plans and published their report on 20 October. The Commission reported promising beginnings. Authorities set targets which indicate a steady improvement in many frontline services, with the worst performing authorities aiming to improve more quickly. The Government agree with the Commission's recommendations for local authorities, and in particular the advice that they should take a more strategic approach in formulating their programmes of Best Value Reviews.