Best
Returns
Best Value Guidance
for
Library Authorities in England
by
Angela Watson,
Angela Watson & Associates
Second Edition
July 2001
The text of the second edition of Best Returns was approved
by the LA's Public Libraries Comnmittee at its meeting on 24 July 2001. The
new edition not only updates the information in the first edition - it reflects
the Public Library Standards for instance - but it has new sections on Best
Value Improvement Plans, Best Value Reviews, What Inspectors Will Do and Getting
the Most out of Inspection.
All Chief Public Librarians in England will be sent 6 printed copies of the
new edition by the beginning of October. Chief Public Librarians in Wales will
receive a single copy for information as the principles of Best Value are the
same in England and Wales even if the process and practice differ in detail.
Meanwhile the text of the new edition of Best Returns
is available on this Web site; if you would prefer to have it e-mailed to you as a
Word file, please request a copy from Anita.Sawyerr@la-hq.org.uk.
Contents
1 Foreword
2 Introduction
3 About
best value
4 Best
value performance plans
5 Best
value reviews
5.1 More on the ‘4Cs’
Challenge
Compare
Consult
Compete
5.2 Improvement plans
Implementing
and monitoring the improvement plan
5.3 Public library
standards and national performance indicators
5.4 Getting the most
out of best value and best value reviews
6 The
role of the Audit Commission
6.1 Audit of best
value performance plans
6.2 Best value inspections
How inspection
will work
What inspectors
will be looking for
The process of inspection
What inspectors
will do
How library services
are likely to be assessed
Getting the most
out of inspection
7 Government
powers of intervention
7.1 Referrals from
auditors
7.2 Referrals from
inspectors
8 Next
steps and future developments
9 Acknowledgements
10 References
and information sources
Exhibits
1 Challenge
2 Compare
3 Consult
4 Compete
5 Improvement
6 Summary
of public library standards and best value performance indicators
7 London
Borough of Sutton: Best Value Review of the Library Service
8 Staffordshire
County Council: Best Value Review of Library Vision
9 Gateshead
Metropolitan Borough Council: Best Value Review of the Library Service
10 Audit
of best value performance plans
11 Six
key questions that lead to the two inspection judgements
12 Inspection
scoring chart
13 The
stages of inspection
About the author …
Angela Watson is a consultant who specialises in cultural services and best value. She
is an Affiliate Best Value Inspector for the Audit Commission, an Associate Consultant for
the Improvement and Development Agency, and a Regional Committee Member for the Heritage
Lottery Fund.
Angela worked for the Audit Commission as part of the team that devised, developed and
tested the process that the Best Value Inspection Service is now using to inspect local authority
cultural services. Prior to this she was a senior manager in local government for ten years, and
has also worked in the not-for-profit cultural services sector.
|
