Best Value, Legislation - The Education and Libraries (NI) Order

 

Best Value is integral the Government's modernising agenda. In 1999 the Labour government introduced "The Local Government Act", more commonly known as "Best Value" and which came into effect on 1 April 2000 in England and Wales.

 

One of the key principles of the Act, which centres around a culture of continuous improvement with a focus on customers and quality, requires local authorities to make arrangements for continuous improvement in service delivery.

 

It requires authorities to review and reform the way that they deliver all of their services to secure continuous improvement. Also, to ask fundamental questions about the underlying objectives and priorities of their work, and about their performance in relation to other organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Best value authorities will be expected to consult local taxpayers and service-users about their views and priorities.

Similar legislation to the Local Government Act 2000, was introduced for District Councils in Northern Ireland in April 2000. During this period and in the absence of specific legislation, elbs entered voluntarily into arrangements from 1999, to develop a comprehensive approach to manage best value in the education sector.

Since 1 April 2003 formal arrangements are now in place for the delivery of Best Value for elb's, with the introduction of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

 

 

The 2003 Order states

 

1.3 (1) A aboard shall make arrangements for continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

 

(2) For the purpose of deciding how to carry out its duty under paragraph (1), a board shall consult persons appearing to the board to be representative of persons who use, are likely to use, or otherwise have an interest in, services provided by the board in pursuance of its functions.