OpenLegislation

Explanatory note

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

(This note is not part of the Order)

Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 imposes requirements on local authorities and other authorities (the best value authorities listed in section 1 of that Act) relating to economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the exercise of their functions (Best Value). Section 4(1) of that Act confers a power on the Secretary of State to specify by order best value performance indicators and standards. This Order specifies performance indicators by reference to which a best value authority’s performance in exercising functions can be measured.

The performance indicators specified in this Order apply in respect to the best value authorities specified in articles 3 to 15 of this Order and in relation to the functions specified by those articles.

Article 3 and Schedule 1 to the Order refer to general indicators which apply in respect of all the functions of the best value authorities listed in that article.

Article 4 and Schedule 2 to the Order refer to general police indicators which apply to police authorities in relation to all their functions.

Article 5 and Schedule 3 to the Order refer to police services indicators which apply to police authorities functions in relation to emergency and non-emergency policing services.

Article 6 and Schedule 4 to the Order refer to education indicators which apply to the authorities listed in that article in relation to their education functions.

Article 7 and Schedule 5 to the Order refer to social services indicators which apply to the authorities listed in that article in relation to their social services functions.

Article 8 and Schedule 6 to the Order refer to indicators for housing and related services which apply to the authorities specified in that article in relation to their housing and housing related functions.

Article 9 and Schedule 7 to the Order deal with indicators for housing benefit and council tax benefit which apply to the authorities listed in that article in relation to their housing benefit and council benefit tax functions.

Article 10 and Schedule 8 to the Order deal with indicators for environmental services. Article 10 (1) provides for the indicators specified in that paragraph to apply to waste disposal authorities in relation to all their functions. Article 10 (2) provides for the indicators specified in that paragraph to apply to waste collection authorities in respect of all their functions. Article 10 (3) provides for indicator 1 of Schedule 8 to apply to the authorities specified in that paragraph in relation to their functions under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 in respect of air quality management. Article 10 (4) provides for indicators 7 and 11 of Schedule 8 to the Order to apply to principal authorities as defined in section 86 (2) of the Environment Protection Act 1990 in respect of their litter and refuse functions under that Act.

Article 11 and Schedule 9 to the Order deal with indicators for transport which apply to the authorities specified in that article in relation to their transport functions.

Article 12 and Schedule 10 to the Order deal with indicators for planning which apply to the authorities specified in paragraph (2) of that article in relation to their planning functions. Article 12 (3) provides for the indicators specified in that paragraph to apply to county councils in respect of their planning functions.

Article 13 and Schedule 11 to the Order deal with indicators for cultural and related services which apply to the authorities specified in paragraph (2) of that article in relation to their cultural and related services functions.

Article 14 and Schedule 12 to the Order deal with indicators for fire services which apply to fire authorities as defined in article 1 of the Order in relation to their functions in respect of the provision of fire services.

Article 15 and Schedule 13 to the Order deal with indicators in respect of crime which apply to the authorities specified in paragraph (2) of that article in exercising their functions in relation to crime reduction.

This Order refers to a number of documents which are relevant to the various performance indicators. Details of how to obtain copies of those documents are set out below.

  • “Best Value and Audit Commission Performance Indicators for 2000/2001. Volume One: The Performance Indicators including the Audit Commission’s Publication of Information Direction (England)”. Published by the DETR, free of charge, in December 1999, Product Code 99LG0782. Copies can be obtained from the DETR, DETR Free Literature, P.O. Box No. 236, Wetherby, LS23 7NB, telephone number 0870 1226 236.

Schedule 1 to the Order

  • “Sustainable local communities for the 21st century. Why and how to prepare an effective Local Agenda 21 strategy”, Local Government Association, Local Government MB and DETR (January 1998); Copies can be obtained from the DETR, DETR Free Literature, P.O. Box No. 236, Wetherby, LS23 7NB, telephone number 0870 1226 236.

  • “Auditing council performance against the Commission for Racial Equality’s standard for local government—Racial Equality means Quality”, compiled by Stella Dadzie and produced in association with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (1999) 112pp ISBN 1 85442 168 9. Cost £10. Copies can be obtained from Central Brooks, 99 Wallis Road, London E95LN, UK, telephone number 0181 986 5488.

  • “Racial Equality means Quality—a standard for racial equality for local government” (Revised 1998), England and Wales, 48pp ISBN 185442 161; Cost £10. Copies can be obtained from Central Brooks, 99 Wallis Road, London E95LN, UK, telephone number 0208 986 5488.

  • “Working well together—Managing attendance in the public sector” published by the Cabinet Office, free of charge, in June 1998. Copies can be obtained free of charge from the Personnel Management and Pay Team, Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London SW1A 2AS or on the internet at: http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/eeg/1998/working.pdf.

Schedule 3 to the Order

  • “Manual of Guidance for the preparation, processing and submission of files” issued by the Trials Issues Group in October 1999. Copies can be obtained, free of charge, from the Justice and Victims Unit at the Home Office, 50 Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AT, telephone number 0207 273 3521.

Schedule 4 to the Order

  • Department for Education and Employment Circular 11/98 “Target setting in schools” published by the Department for Education and Employment in July 1998. Copies can be obtained, free of charge, from the Department for Education and Employment publications, PO Box 5050, Sudbury, Suffolk CO20 6ZQ.

Schedule 5 to the Order

  • Department of Health Guidance Notes for the completion of the 2000–2001 Statistical Return (SSDA 903 Guidance) “Children looked after by local authorities in England”, issued by the Department of Health on February 2000. Copies can be obtained, free of charge, from the Department of Health, Area 451c, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH.

Schedule 6 to the Order

  • “Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings”, 1988 Edition. Copies can be obtained, free of charge, from the Enquiries bureau, Building Research Establishment, Garston, Watford WD2 7JR.

Schedule 7 to the Order

  • The Verification Framework guidance is set out in nine circulars on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit issued by the Department of Social Security to local authorities. These are Circular F6/98 (issued in March 1998), Circular F15/98 (issued in November 1998); Circular F20/98 (issued in December 1998); Circular A24/99 (issued in July 1999); Circular F17/99 (issued in August 1999); Circular A34/99 (issued in September 1999); Circular A36/99 (issued in September 1999); Circular A37/99 (issued in September 1999); and Circular A48/99 (issued in October 1999). Copies of these circulars can be obtained, free of charge, from the Department of Social Security, Housing Benefit Management Branch, 5th Floor, The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT.

  • “Circular S1/2000 on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit”, issued to local authorities by the Department of Social Security in March 2000. Copies can be obtained, free of charge, from the Department of Social Security, Housing Benefit Management Branch, 5th Floor, The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT.

  • “The Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Guide for 2000-2001” issued by the Department of Social Security in December 1999. Copies can be obtained, free of charge, from the Department of Social Security, Analytical Services Division, Room B2715, Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1YX.

Schedule 9 to the Order

  • “Best Value Road Condition Surveys for Local Highway Authorities” published by the DETR in March 2000 with publication Number 99 PRLT 1020. Copies can be obtained from the DETR, DETR Free Literature, P.O. Box No. 236, Wetherby, LS23 7NB, telephone number 0870 1226 236.

Schedule 10 to the Order

  • Planning Policy Guidance Note 3, “Housing”, published by the Stationery Office Limited in March 2000. Cost £7. Copies can be obtained from HMSO, The Stationery Office, PO Box 276, London SW8 5DT, telephone number 0845 702 3474.

  • “PS2 Return for the quarter ending December 1999 and Notes for completion of Form PS2 (District)” published by the DETR in September 1999. Copies of these can be obtained, free of charge, from DETR, Housing and Planning Statistics Unit, Gaunts House, Denmark Street, Bristol BS1 5BP.

  • “CPS1/2 Return for the quarter ending December 1999 and Notes for completion of Form CPS1/2 (County Matters)” published by the DETR in September 1999. Copies of these can be obtained, free of charge, from DETR, Housing and Planning Statistics Unit, Gaunts House, Denmark Street, Bristol BS1 5BP.

  • “Planning Policy Guidance Note 12—Development Plans” published by the DETR in December 1999. Cost £10. Copies can be obtained, from Literature, DETR Publication Sales, Unit 21, Commercial Road, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S63 9BC, telephone number 01709 891 318.

  • “The One Stop Shop Approach to Development Consents” published by the DETR in April 1998. Cost £12. Copies can be obtained from the DETR, Literature DETR Publication Sales, Unit 21, Commercial Raod, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S63 9BC, telephone number 01709 891 318.

Schedule 11 to the Order

  • “Museums Association Code of Ethics”, 3rd Edition 1999, published by the Museums Association. Copies can be obtained free of charge from the Museums Association, 42 Clerkenwell Close, London EC1R 0RP.

  • Department of Culture Media and Sports draft guidance on “Local Cultural Strategies” for local authorities in England, published by the Department of Culture Media and Sports in June 1999. Copies can be obtained free of charge from the Department of Culture, Media and Sports, DCMS publications, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH.

Schedule 12 to the Order

  • Home Office Statistical Bulletin 25/98—fire statistics, United Kingdom 1997 (ISSN 0143 6384)—published by the Home Office on 3rd November 1998 (as modified in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 15/99, fire statistics, United Kingdom 1998 published on 8th September 1999). Copies can be obtained, free of charge from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistical Directorate, Room 201, 50 Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AT, telephone number 0207 273 2084.

  • “Fire Service Statistics 1999”, published in August 1999 by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s Statistical Information Service, ISSN 0968 -0357. Cost £85. Copies can be obtained from the Institute of Public Finance, 7th Floor, NLA Tower, 12-16 Addiscombe Road, Croydon CR0 0XT, telephone number 0208 667 1144.

  • “Fire Service Circular 4/1985”, issued to fire authorities by the Home Office on 22 May 1985. Copies can be obtained, free of charge, from the Home Office, Room 636, Horseferry House, Dean Ryle Street, London, SW1P 2AW, telephone number 0207 217 8469.

  • “Fire Service Circular 7/1999”, issued to fire authorities by the Home Office on 13 July 1999. Copies can be obtained, free of charge, from the Home Office, Room 636, Horseferry House, Dean Ryle Street, London, SW1P 2AW, telephone number 0207 217 8469.

  • “Dear Chief Officer Letter 2/2000”, issued by the Home Office, to chief fire officers on 31 January 2000. Copies can be obtained, free of charge, from the Home Office, Room 636, Horseferry House, Dean Ryle Street, London, SW1P 2AW, telephone number 0207 217 8469.