22 February 2002
A statutory instrument has been laid before Parliament ending the requirement for councils to conduct five-year reviews of all their services. The intention is to allow authorities to conduct thematic reviews focusing on the services that most need attention. Peripheral services will no longer have to be included.
The instrument also changes the annual submission deadline for Best Value performance plans from March 31 to June 30. This is intended to make the plans more robust, by basing them on year-end performance data instead of estimates. The deadline for auditing BVPPs will go back from June 30 to December 31.
Local government minister Alan Whitehead unveiled the changes at a conference organised by the New Local Government Network think-tank. He said: 'I am pleased that we are bringing in these changes so quickly after publication of the white paper.
'This clearly shows that the government is keen to work in partnership with councils to deliver high quality public services.'
PFfeb2002
